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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32270-8.txt b/32270-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a52f676 --- /dev/null +++ b/32270-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6564 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Skull, by John Blaine + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Golden Skull + +Author: John Blaine + +Release Date: May 6, 2010 [EBook #32270] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN SKULL *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + + + + THE GOLDEN SKULL + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK, N. Y. + +COPYRIGHT, 1954, BY +GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. + +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +[Illustration: _The Ifugaos, faces distorted with hatred and fury, +pursued them._] + + + + +Contents + + + I THE HEAD-HUNTER + + II MANILA AFTER DARK + + III THE GODS OF BANAUE + + IV INSIDE THE WALLS + + V MANOTOK THE MIGHTY + + VI CHAHDA CHECKS IN + + VII IGOROT COUNTRY + + VIII THE BONTOC ROAD + + IX IFUGAO COUNTRY + + X AMBUSH + + XI WARRIORS THREE + + XII THE IFUGAO VILLAGE + + XIII THE PEACEFUL PROFESSION + + XIV SIGN OF THE DRAGON + + XV UNDER THE DRAGON'S CLAWS + + XVI FLYING SPEARS + + XVII MAKE OR BREAK + + XVIII THE SKY WAGON + + XIX THE NIPA HUT + + XX SURPRISE PACKAGE + + + + +THE GOLDEN SKULL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Head-hunter + + +It was hot in the cabin of the freighter _Asiatic Dream_. The heaviness +of the tropical heat outside the ship penetrated through the steel and +flaking paint of the deck to turn the cabin into an oven. + +Rick Brant and Don Scott, stripped to their shorts, were oblivious of +the heat. They sat hunched over a three-dimensional chessboard, studying +the complex moves of their newest hobby. Now and then they glared at +each other, or paused to wipe the sweat from their faces or arms, but +otherwise they concentrated on the three-layer board and the chessmen. +The rivalry was intense, and had been ever since Hartson Brant, Rick's +distinguished scientist father, had introduced them to the game back +home on Spindrift Island. + +Watching them was Dr. Anthony Briotti. Clad in tropical tan shorts and +nothing else, he looked like a college athlete. Little about him +suggested that he was an archaeologist with an international reputation. + +Presently he rose and left the cabin, heading for the deck. He didn't +bother to say where he was going; he knew the boys wouldn't even notice. +On deck, Briotti leaned against the rail and peered ahead to where the +rocky fortress of Corregidor loomed at the mouth of Manila Bay. His +pulse beat faster at the sight of the famous island. He knew its +outline. He had commanded a destroyer during World War II. Even though +the faint light of a new moon showed only vague outlines, he recognized +the old Spanish prison rock below the overhang of Corregidor, and he +remembered that his guns had blasted at the Japanese from that very +point. + +Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow move fleetingly. He turned +but saw nothing. Then, because he was busy with his memories, he turned +back to the dim, haunting view of Corregidor and thought no more about +it. + +Below, Rick Brant moved his king diagonally across the three-dimensional +chessboard and said triumphantly, "Checkmate!" + +Scotty rose, drew back one muscular leg as though to kick the set into +the air, then grinned. "Had to let you win. Bad for morale to lose all +the time. Next time I'll teach you how to lose." + +Rick snorted. "You let me win like a mother bear would let me walk off +with her cubs. It's my remarkable intellect that won that game, and +nothing else." + +"Won by your wits, eh?" Scotty mopped his wet face. "And you only half +armed!" + +Rick shied a chessman at him. "Wait until we teach this game to Chahda." + +Scotty chuckled. "He'll probably beat us both at once, then we'll find +out he learned how to play from the latest edition of _The World +Almanac_." + +Chahda, their Hindu friend, had learned about America by memorizing an +old copy of the _Almanac_, and he quoted from it at every opportunity. +Since their first meeting in Bombay during the adventure of _The Lost +City_, the Indian boy had been with them on several expeditions. Now he +was to meet them in Manila to help them in their search for one of +ancient history's most fabulous treasures. + +Rick, a tall, slim boy, with light-brown hair and brown eyes, led the +way up the ladder to the deck. Scotty, bigger and slightly darker in +coloring, followed close behind. They walked toward the bow, searching +for Briotti, their eyes not yet accustomed to the darkness. + +Rick called, "Tony?" + +"Here by the rail," the archaeologist answered. + +The boys moved toward him, but someone--or something--moved faster. A +shadowy form sped past them, and Rick's quick eyes caught the flash of +light on steel. He yelled, "Watch it!" + +Tony moved, and a steel blade clanged off the ship's rail. Rick and +Scotty leaped forward, grasping for the shadow. The steel blade lifted +again. Scotty grabbed a wrist and twisted. The blade clattered to the +deck. Rick got his arms around a sweaty waist and squeezed, bracing his +feet to lift the man off the deck. Then an elbow caught him in the +Adam's apple and flooded his eyes with tears of pain. He loosened his +grip involuntarily and felt the man squirm free. Scotty yelled, "Get +him!" + +Tony Briotti swung a roundhouse right that missed and sent him sprawling +off balance. Then the assailant was on the rail, poised. Scotty lunged +for his ankle as the man dived cleanly out and away from the ship into +the dark water. The three rushed to the rail, watching for the swimmer. + +"Man overboard!" Tony's voice lifted in a shout that brought the crew +running. + +For a few moments there was confusion as the officers and crew tried to +find out what had happened, and then the searchlight on the bridge was +manned and its white beam cut the water. + +There was no swimmer. But off toward Bataan Peninsula the light +reflected from the patched sail of a _banca_, an outrigger canoe, +sailing toward shore with a bone in its teeth. + +A few moments later the three Spindrifters stood in the captain's +office, staring at a Filipino bolo, a long, slightly curving machete +with a square tip. Tony hefted it and shuddered. "If you hadn't +yelled--well, this thing landed right where my head had been a second +before." + +"If I hadn't said anything," Rick replied, "it wouldn't have been +anywhere near your neck. I put the finger on you by calling your name." + +Scotty snapped his fingers. "Of course! The guy must have been hiding, +until he heard us call. Then, when you answered, he knew you were the +one he was after, and he went for you." + +Tony stared, incredulous. "But why? I can't imagine why a mountain +Igorot would board the ship for the express purpose of killing me!" + +It was Rick's turn to stare. "How did you know he was an Igorot?" + +"Either an Igorot or an Ifugao," Tony replied. "I caught a glimpse of +his head structure as he jumped onto the rail. Besides, the haircut is +distinctive. It looks as though a bowl had been put on the head and all +hair removed that it didn't cover." + +Rick knew that an Igorot was a primitive native of the Philippine +Mountain Province. All of them had received a series of lectures on +Philippine ethnology from Tony before leaving home. The Igorots bore +roughly the same relationship to the regular Filipino as American +Indians do to the white American. Ifugao natives were much like the +Igorots, but with a slightly more advanced culture. They, too, lived in +Mountain Province, the objective of the Spindrift expedition. + +The trip had grown out of an earlier expedition to Kwangara Island in +the western Pacific. Dr. Anthony Briotti had helped translate the +tablets found in the sunken temple of Alta Yuan, and had discovered the +connection between the early people of the Philippines--of whom the +Igorots and Ifugaos were the descendants--and the white dragon +worshipers of Alta Yuan. + +One plaque from the sunken temple had described the Ifugao rice terraces +of Mountain Province in unmistakable detail, and also had described a +skull of gold which was said to have magic properties. + +Tony Briotti had been so enthusiastic about locating this fabulous +skull, and proving the connection between Alta Yuan and the Philippines, +that Hartson Brant, head of the Spindrift Foundation, had made +arrangements for the small expedition. None of the other Spindrift +scientists could be spared, so Tony Briotti had only Rick and Scotty as +assistants. Chahda was to join them in Manila. The boys thought that was +help aplenty. No other helpers were needed. + +"I don't believe it," Tony stated. "It is simply beyond possibility that +an Igorot could have boarded this ship with the express intention of +killing me. More likely, he boarded the ship to steal, thought he was +discovered, and headed for the rail where his banca was tied. I was in +the way. That's all." + +"No one saw the banca approach," the ship's captain said, "but of course +it could have. We've been traveling at only a few knots, and the banca +could have approached from the stern, thrown a line over the rail, and +tied up. Dangerous, but a clever native could do it. They're like cats. +Make fine sailors." He added, "Never heard of it being done before, but +there's no reason to think it was an attempt at murder. Thieves in the +Orient are willing to take long chances." + +Rick stared through the port at the lights of Manila. He was very +thoughtful. Let Tony try to brush the incident aside. He knew better. He +knew it in his bones. There was trouble ahead for the Spindrifters. + +He caught Scotty's worried frown, and he knew that his pal's thoughts +were the same. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +Manila After Dark + + +Out of the _Asiatic Dream's_ forward hold swung the sleek shape of an +airplane fuselage. Rick bristled with nervous energy as he watched. He +yelled, "Watch it! Take it easy with that winch!" + +Scotty patted him on the shoulder. "Take it easy yourself before you pop +a gusset. They're doing all right." + +Rick didn't take his eyes off the plane. "Okay. But if they drop it, +we'll hike into the mountains instead of flying in style. Hey, you! Lift +it! Lift it clear of the rail!" + +The plane was Rick's new Sky Wagon, a powerful little four-place job +that had replaced his beloved Cub, wrecked by saboteurs, as related in +_Stairway to Danger_. It had less than ten hours' flying time, and he +didn't want it wrecked by having a careless winchman bash it against +something. But in spite of his fears, the fuselage was lowered safely +onto the waiting truck, the wings in their crates were brought out, and +in a short time the boys were riding with the plane out to Manila +International Airport. + +The day was still young. The freighter had anchored off the Manila port +area during the night, berthing in the early hours. The Spindrift party +had checked into the Manila Hotel, and Tony, leaving the boys to +supervise the unloading and clearance of their equipment, had gone off +to the University of the Philippines. Now the crates of equipment were +in the customs shed waiting to be picked up, and the plane was en route +to the airport to be assembled. Everything was going smoothly, +except ... + +"Chahda," Rick mused. "Where do you suppose he went?" + +"The day I can figure out Chahda's comings and goings is the day I +polish my crystal ball and solve the rest of the world's mysteries. He's +probably off studying _The World Almanac_." + +Chahda had been registered at the Manila Hotel but had checked out three +days before their arrival. He had left no forwarding address and no +message. + +"He's probably somewhere in the Indian colony of Manila," Rick +speculated. "Quite a few Indians here, mostly Hindus. They call 'em +Bombays, Tony said." + +"He'll show up," Scotty said. "He always does. Wonder how Tony is making +out?" + +Tony had gone to see a colleague, a Filipino archaeologist by the name +of Dr. Remedios Okola. It was through Okola that arrangements had been +made with the Philippine Government for their expedition--or would be +made. Their permit had not yet been issued. + +"I didn't know they had a university here." Scotty added, "Until Tony +started writing to this Filipino scientist." + +"You should read the stuff Tony brought," Rick replied. "The Philippines +has a dozen universities." + +Scotty grinned. "Chahda is probably taking a course in one of them. +Getting a degree of D.D." + +Rick took the bait. "What? Doctor of Divinity or Doctor of Dentistry?" + +"Neither. Dean of Disappearances." + +Rick groaned. Still, it was true. Chahda was the most disappearing +person he had ever known. The truth was, as he well knew, Chahda loved +the dramatic. The little Hindu boy thoroughly enjoyed baffling his pals +with theatrical appearances and disappearances. Not that he did his +vanishing act just for fun, however. There was usually a good reason. + +Arrangements had been made by mail and confirmed by phone that morning +for hangar space at Manila International Airport. While giant +transpacific passenger liners landed or took off, and while the busy +twin-engined island hoppers of Philippine Air Lines kept the field +active, the boys assembled the Sky Wagon. + +Even allowing for Rick's pride of ownership, the Sky Wagon was a beauty. +It was painted pure white with a red strip along the fuselage. It could +carry four, plus a fair amount of cargo. It had flaps which permitted +slow landings and short take-offs, and it had retractable landing gear +and variable-pitch propeller. + +Under the rear seats was a special feature--a small hatch through which +a winch-driven cable could be operated. + +This was a typical Rick Brant labor-saving device. Back home, Rick was +the errand boy for Spindrift Island, an island off the New Jersey coast +where the famous Spindrift Foundation was located. Until he acquired the +Sky Wagon, his grocery shopping meant landing at Whiteside Airport, +hiking into town, picking up the groceries, lugging them back, loading +them in the Cub and flying back to Spindrift. + +Now he could phone in his order, get into the Sky Wagon, lower the +weighted cable, and swoop low over the grocery store, which was located +on the outskirts of Whiteside. The hook at the end of the cable snagged +another cable hung between two steel poles on the roof of the store. The +sack of groceries--it was a special strong canvas sack--were on the +cable and needed only to be reeled into the plane. + +It worked fine. The only trouble was that Rick had never collected eggs +intact. The shock of the pickup was a little too much. When he solved +that problem, he would make arrangements with the electronic supply +house in Newark to let him put up the same kind of rig. Eventually, he +hoped, he would get so efficient that he never would have to land on the +mainland except to deliver a passenger or to pay a personal visit. + +Rick and Scotty checked the plane over with the greatest of care, and +then Rick got in and started the engine. He let it warm up, watching his +instruments. Everything was fine. He motioned to Scotty, who was +watching and listening from outside. + +Scotty got in, and Rick taxied to the end of a runway. While he revved +up the engine, Scotty obtained take-off permission from the control +tower, and in a few moments they were air-borne, enjoying the sudden +drop in temperature. + +"First time I've stopped sweating in a week," Scotty said. + +Rick nodded and motioned to pump up the landing gear. The hydraulic +system worked on a hand pump between the two front seats. It was not as +satisfactory as a motor-driven pump, but it took no electric power and +used up no valuable weight. Besides, a few strokes on the pump did the +job. He leveled off at five thousand feet above the city. + +Below, the Pasig River cut the city in half. They traced the line of the +great wall around Intramuros, the ancient walled city, and they found +the white mass of the American Embassy across Dewey Boulevard from some +very modern apartments. They passed over the Manila Hotel, then saw the +ruins of infamous Fort Santiago. + +Inland, the land was lush green with high mountains rising in the +distance. To the north lay Mountain Province, and behind the screen of +mountains was their destination. + +There was still work to be done, so Rick reluctantly took the Sky Wagon +down again. It was in perfect condition; no need for further flight. + +They lunched at a modern drive-in on Dewey Boulevard, the split-lane +highway that runs along the edge of Manila Bay, then picked up their +crates of supplies at customs. This was a light expedition, so there +were only three crates. One held their camp gear and trail clothing. +Another crate held Tony Briotti's special tools and reference books. The +third held the most important object of the expedition--the Spindrift +Experimental Earth Scanner, called SEES for short, and further +abbreviated by the boys to a sibilant hiss. + +"How's the SS working?" Scotty would ask, and Rick would answer: "'Sfine +'scan be." + +The boys were old hands at expeditions and they had learned from bitter +experience about the number of unexpected things that can happen to +baggage, so in spite of some opposition from the hotel clerk, they +insisted on stowing the supplies in their room. This done, they got into +bathing trunks and cooled off in the hotel pool. There was nothing to do +now but wait for Tony--and Chahda. + +When they returned from their swim a message was waiting, brought by a +messenger from Tony Briotti. Rick read it, then handed it to Scotty. +They were to have dinner with Tony's colleague Okola, and an Assistant +Secretary of the Interior, a Mr. Lazada, at the latter's house. Dinner +was at ten. They were to arrive a half hour early, and wear dinner +jackets. + +"Dinner at ten!" Scotty was stunned. "It must be a mistake. No one could +live until that hour without food." + +The desk clerk overheard the comment and smiled. "Old Spanish custom, +sir. Many Filipinos follow Spanish custom." + +"Very fine for those who are used to it," Rick said. "But here's one +Americano who is not going to follow Filipinos who follow old Spanish +custom." + +"Two Americanos," Scotty corrected. "We will follow old American custom +of snack early, English custom of dinner at eight, and then Spanish +custom of dinner at ten. That way we get plenty chow, hey?" + +This exchange was for their own benefit. The clerk did not overhear +because they were hurrying to their rooms to change. + +It was not too early to get into dinner jackets. They hauled out what +Scotty called their "penguin rigs" and got into them. In spite of +feeling a little self-conscious, they looked brown and handsome in their +white tropical jackets with maroon bow ties. + +They found a table on the porch, looking out over Manila Bay and the +great field called The Luneta. By turning a little Rick could see the +traffic on Dewey Boulevard. Rick had never seen anything like it. +Apparently Filipino drivers were all mad at something, and all under the +impression that no other vehicles were on the road. Also, Filipino +drivers obviously had wild affection for their horns. They tooted +constantly. + +"The life of a pedestrian must be less than ten minutes in this town," +Scotty commented. + +"Pedestrians are nothing but the raw material for accidents," Rick +agreed. "Look at that!" + +Among the busses, the cars, and the jeeps that ranged the boulevard +trotted a half-dozen two-wheeled carriages drawn by tiny horses. These +were the _calesas_ of bygone days, still competing with Manila's +countless taxis for passengers. + +"We should hire two and have a chariot race," Scotty suggested. + +They had a sandwich and a cold drink made with _calamansi_, the pungent +small Philippine limes, then walked across the boulevard to where the +great wall of the old city rose high in the air. The wall was of huge +stone blocks, rising about four times the boys' height into the air. It +was perhaps twenty feet thick at the base. + +Within the walls there had once been a city of a hundred thousand +people, but it was there that in World War II the Japanese had chosen to +make their last stand. Most of the people of the city had been wiped +out, along with their Japanese captors, and of the ancient buildings +only a cathedral remained. The area had been bulldozed flat in most +places, and Quonset-type warehouses, called _bodegas_, had replaced the +ruined Spanish buildings. + +"Rick, look at this!" Scotty called, pointing to a fern-like plant that +grew near the wall. "Watch." He touched it and the leaves rolled into +tight tubes. "How about that?" + +A Filipino gentleman, immaculate in a white nylon suit, watched them for +a moment, then joined them. "The plant is strange to Americans, I think. +It is a sensitive mimosa. You have the mimosa in America, but not this +variety." + +"It's good of you to explain, sir," Rick said. + +"Not at all. In Tagalog, the plant is called _makahiya_. It means, +literally, 'I am ashamed when you touch me.'" + +"It's ashamed, so it closes up," Rick said. "That's charming. Tagalog +must be a picturesque language." + +The Filipino nodded. "It has a certain flavor. Allow me to introduce +myself. I am Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippine constabulary." + +Rick took his first good look at the Filipino and immediately recognized +the soldierly bearing and lean fitness of the professional soldier. He +introduced himself and Scotty. + +Colonel Rojas smiled. "The young men who are going to dine with the +esteemed Assistant Secretary tonight, eh? Welcome to our country." He +bowed and walked away, leaving them openmouthed. Then, as an +afterthought, he turned. "Surprised? Don't be. We are interested in +strangers until their intentions are known. Yours are above reproach." +His smile faded. "However, you may be interested in another bit of +Tagalog." He spoke briefly a phrase that seemed to be mostly vowels. + +"What does it mean?" Scotty asked. + +The colonel's eyes searched theirs. "What good is hay to a dead horse," +he said and walked away. + +The boys stared at each other. + +"A very good question," Rick said at last. The colonel had vanished into +the Manila Hotel. "Scotty, what good is hay to a dead horse?" + +"The deceased equine has little use for hay," Scotty said. "Obviously. +Was that a warning?" + +"I don't know what it was," Rick said. The phrase could have been a +warning, but of what? And how had the colonel known where they were +dining? He put the question aloud. + +Scotty shrugged. "Doesn't the constabulary come under the Department of +the Interior? Maybe Lazada told him. A colonel would be pretty high rank +in the constabulary; he could even be the commander." + +The Philippine constabulary had a long and distinguished history. It was +similar to a police force, but was a military organization. It was, Rick +thought, something like a cross between the American state militia, the +Texas Rangers, and any good state police force. + +"I'm snowed," Rick said at last. "The only thing I'm sure of is that he +wasn't looking for information when he asked what good is hay to a dead +horse. Come on. Let's start for Lazada's." + +The way led across busy Taft Avenue, named for the American president, +across the Ayala Bridge which spanned the Pasig River, and past Malaccan +Palace. The palace was the equivalent of our White House. In its time +Spanish, American, and Japanese conquerors of the Philippines had lived +there. Now it housed the president of the Republic of the Philippines. + +It was very dark by the time they passed the palace. They left the +street-lighted area and entered an area of old Spanish houses. The Pasig +River was very close. They could smell the water hyacinth which floated +endlessly down to the sea. + +The air was heavy with unshed rain. The boys had long since shed their +jackets and were carrying them. Now the heat seemed to push down on +them, muffling even the sound of their leather soles on the cobbles. +They passed a solitary street light and Rick read the sign. They were on +the right track. The hotel clerk's directions, obtained before they ate, +had been very good. + +"Almost there," Rick whispered, then wondered why he hadn't spoken +aloud. + +Apparently Scotty was feeling the same physical oppression because he +didn't comment on the whisper. + +The houses were two-story, old Spanish style, with much wrought-iron +fancy work. Few lights showed. Such houses presented only blank faces to +the street. The life inside them found its open air in secluded patios +in the rear. + +"We must be getting close," Scotty said. His voice was very low. + +Rick unsnapped his key ring. It had a pencil flashlight attached. He +shot the light over the house fronts, searching for a number. A +cream-colored lizard darted frantically out of the circle of light into +protecting darkness. + +"Two more numbers," Rick said. "Must be the house after the next one." +He flashed the tiny light ahead and froze as he saw the shape of a man. +Beside him, he felt Scotty tense. + +It was silly to stand frozen. Rick moved ahead, slowly, and the shape +took form. Turban, flowing tunic with sash. Fiercely whiskered face. A +Sikh guard. + +He breathed a sigh of relief. Sikhs--Indians--were noted for their +bravery and fighting ability, and they could be found in most cities of +the Far East, usually employed as private guards or police. + +The Sikh came to attention and Rick noted that he was rather small for +his race. Most Sikhs were big men. He had kept the light on the bearded +face, noting that the beard was neatly tied in the Sikh fashion. Brown +eyes stared unblinkingly. A hoarse voice said, "This ees house of +Meester Secretary Lazada. Please to enter." + +Suddenly the voice changed and Rick nearly jumped out of his skin. + +"Go right on up the stairs, meatheads. Scotty must be hungry. He always +is." + +Rick choked. + +"Chahda!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Gods of Banaue + + +Scotty reached out for the Hindu boy, but Chahda stepped nimbly aside. +"Not time for horseplay now," he said. "Or talk either. Houseboy will +hear. It important I stay under cover. You go up and eat. Later, if I +can, I will come to Manila Hotel. If I cannot, I will meet you in +Baguio." + +The boys knew better than to argue. They each punched Chahda +affectionately as they passed him, then Rick knocked on the door, which +was instantly opened by a Filipino houseboy. + +The houseboy led them up a steep flight of stairs into a huge living +room, sparsely furnished after the tropical fashion, but with exquisite +and expensive Chinese furniture of rosewood and teak. Tony Briotti came +to meet them, then introduced them to Dr. Remedios Okola and the +Honorable Irineo Lazada. + +Dr. Okola, obviously, had a great deal of Spanish blood in his ancestry. +He was tall and lean, with a deeply lined face and a magnificent +hawklike nose. His hair was iron gray. He wore black dress trousers and +an open-neck slipover shirt of a very fine, almost transparent, fabric +heavily embroidered down the front. The shirt hung outside his trousers +in traditional style. This was the _barong_ Tagalog, the native Filipino +costume. + +Where the Filipino archaeologist showed his Spanish blood, the Honorable +Irineo Lazada's face betrayed his Chinese ancestry. He was round of +face, and his eyes had the typical Mongoloid fold. He was dressed in an +expensive white sharkskin suit with a white American-style shirt and a +black tie. The tie was held in place by the biggest diamond Rick had +ever seen. He assumed it was real; no one would wear a phony one that +big. + +Lazada had a huge Manila cigar in one hand and a fan in the other. By +some feat of legerdemain he managed to shake hands with the boys without +letting go of either. + +"Come in, come in," he said genially. "Welcome to the Philippines. You +will have some refreshment? How about a coke?" + +That suited the boys fine. Lazada waved a pudgy hand and a slippered +houseboy appeared like a genie, carrying two iced glasses of coke. Rick +was not in the least surprised. He had had his favorite American +beverage in more unexpected places than this. + +Tony Briotti explained, "Dr. Okola and I just got here. We had a most +interesting day at the university. I was beginning to go into the +details of our expedition with Mr. Lazada." + +"Please continue," Lazada said expansively. + +Rick, who was sensitive to voices, had the impression that Mr. Lazada's +voice passed through a bath of highly refined oil before it emerged from +his thick lips. It wasn't exactly oily--just sort of overlubricated. + +Lazada alternately smoked and fanned. "You were telling me of Spindrift +Island. Am I to gather that you are the only Spindrift scientist on this +expedition? And that these young men just came for the voyage?" + +"By no means." Tony set Lazada straight. "Rick is our pilot and +electronics technician. Scotty is mechanic and camp manager." + +"Pilot?" Lazada looked surprise. + +Dr. Okola hastened to explain. "I neglected to tell Mr. Lazada that you +are bringing your own plane. Of course, sir, permission was obtained in +advance from the Philippine Aeronautics Authority." + +"A helicopter, of course," Lazada said. "Nothing else would be of value +in Mountain Province. The only air-field is at Baguio." + +"It's a four-place Sky Wagon," Rick said. "We hoped there might be some +suitable landing places." + +Lazada shrugged. "Perhaps there are, but they are not regular airports. +Planes do not fly in that country. Both the mountains and the weather +are dangerous." + +"Might it not be possible for them to land on the roadway at Bontoc and +then go over the mountains to Banaue by truck?" Dr. Okola asked. + +"Perhaps." Lazada didn't seem too optimistic. "Exactly where do you +expect to find this golden skull?" He added, "I can tell you more about +the transportation you will need when I know that." + +"We only know that it should be somewhere among the rice terraces," Tony +Briotti said. "I realize that they cover entire mountainsides. That is +why we came prepared to stay for some time if need be. There is so much +territory to cover with our equipment!" + +"Many square miles," Lazada agreed. "What is the expression? A needle in +a haystack? Surely you must have some kind of clue." + +"Just one," Dr. Okola said. "A dragon. Isn't that so, Dr. Briotti?" + +Tony nodded. "That's what the translation of the Kwangara Island +artifacts said. The dragon is supposed to be guarding a cache of +religious objects, including the golden skull and other gold objects." + +"You mean a gilt skull, of course," Lazada said. + +"No, the description was quite clear. A skull of metallic gold." + +"A miniature, probably." + +"No, sir. The skull is actually larger than life size." + +Lazada stopped slouching in his chair. "Incredible!" + +Dr. Okola spoke up. "After all, Mr. Secretary, gold is mined right here +in the Philippines. In Mountain Province, in fact. And it is found in +many other parts of Asia." + +Rick had a strange feeling as he watched Lazada's face. The Assistant +Secretary seemed to be licking his lips, although he wasn't actually +doing so. It was almost as though Lazada was doing sums in his head.... +Gold is heavy.... It would take a lot of gold to make a life-size skull, +even a hollow one.... Gold is worth thirty-five dollars an ounce, +legally. If smuggled into China, it would bring twice that.... + +"Tell me more of this dragon," Lazada invited. + +Tony was glad to oblige. Next to actually working at his profession he +enjoyed talking about it. "The dragon is of the greatest importance +throughout the culture of the East. We followed its trail from the great +temple of Ankor Vat in Cambodia all the way to the sunken temple of Alta +Yuan." + +Rick remembered vividly. He had been at the controls of the Submobile, a +hundred fathoms under the waters of the Pacific, when the first Alta +Yuan dragon came to light. + +"The dragon was the incarnation of the chief god of the Alta Yuan +people. When an earthquake sank the temple, the people of the island +lost their gods. When we hauled the dragon back up and gave it to them, +nothing was too good for us." He paused. "By 'we' I mean the Spindrift +scientists. I was not among the lucky ones, since I had not yet joined +the Spindrift group." + +Okola shared Tony's excitement over the Alta Yuan find. "I, too, was +very much interested in that expedition. And when I heard that the +artifacts brought from the bottom of the sea provided a possible +connection between the Philippines and that ancient culture, you can +imagine my excitement." + +Rick could see that Lazada could not possibly imagine so much excitement +over an archaeological find, but was too courteous to say so. + +"Then finding a similar dragon among the rice terraces would show a link +between our country and the ruins of Ankor Vat?" Lazada asked. + +"Exactly," Tony replied. + +Lazada rose. "Dinner is ready. Let us continue our discussion at the +table." + +They went out to a balcony which overlooked a garden at the rear of the +house. A table set with the finest Chinese linen and delicate Siamese +silverware was waiting for them. Houseboys waited to serve them. Over a +dinner of broiled giant prawns, meat-stuffed rolls called _lumpia_, and +whole barbecued suckling pig called _lechon_, they continued their talk +of the expedition. + +"What is the significance of the golden skull?" Lazada asked. + +"I did not know until today," Tony answered. "I found out from my +esteemed colleague here. He has been doing some very hard work on it. +Will you answer, Dr. Okola?" + +The Filipino archaeologist looked pleased, but he hastened to say, "The +credit is not mine alone. I had the invaluable assistance of one of my +graduate students, who is himself an Ifugao. A brilliant young man. Next +week I am attending a celebration at his home, in honor of his becoming +an assistant professor at the university." + +"I'm sorry I didn't meet him," Tony Briotti said. "Did you mention his +name?" + +"Nangolat. However, Mr. Lazada asked about the significance of the +golden skull. We were able to uncover a story about it among the many +Ifugao myths, a story of which I had not been aware until Dr. Briotti's +letters put me on the track. You realize that the Ifugao religion is +rich in myths. It is a very complicated religion with over a thousand +gods." + +Scotty whistled. "They must have a god for nearly everything they say or +do." + +"Just about," Dr. Okola agreed. "Even their universe is divided into +five regions. There is the known earth, _pugao_; the sky world, +_kabunian_; the region downriver, _lagod_; the region upriver, _daiya_; +and the underworld, _dalun_." + +"What river?" Rick asked. + +"Any river on which they happen to live," Okola answered. "No one knows +exactly what the original river of the Ifugaos might have been. You see, +they are immigrants. They came from the Chinese mainland, but we don't +know exactly when, or whether their original home was China. Perhaps we +will find out that it was Cambodia. We do know that their miraculous +rice terraces were started at least two thousand years ago." + +"That makes them almost as old as the pyramids!" Scotty exclaimed. + +"Quite right. The whole culture is quite astonishing. We think of them +as primitive people, but their history is more complex than our own. +However, we are speaking of heads. Heads have always been of the +greatest religious importance to the Ifugaos. They have been +head-hunters for religious and economic reasons for centuries. First +America, and then the Republic of the Philippines tried to stamp out the +custom. In general, we have succeeded. There is little or no +head-hunting now--so far as we know." + +Lazada grunted. "The mountains are difficult to police. I doubt that we +know all that goes on. I wouldn't be surprised if a head wasn't taken +now and then. After all, the Ifugaos got the heads of two American +professors only a few years ago." + +"The murders were for religious reasons," Okola explained. "Sacrifices +were needed for the rice crop. The unfortunate professors were on a +hiking trip, and they happened along at just the wrong moment." + +Rick remembered newspaper reports of the incident. It had attracted +world-wide attention. The Ifugao natives responsible had been captured +by the Philippine constabulary, tried, and punished. + +Okola continued, "We have traced back a thread through the complicated +maze of Ifugao myths. The thread leads to a legendary hero--the +leader-god who led the Ifugaos to the Philippines. The golden skull was +originally his own, turned to gold by the very power of the hero's +magic. After his death, of course. At first it was an ordinary skull, +then it turned to gold." + +"Then the skull has something to do with head-hunting?" Rick asked. + +"Indeed it does. It is apparently the chief object to which heads are +sacrificed--or was, before it was lost. The golden skull is _almaduan_, +the very soul stuff of the Ifugaos." + +"How was it lost?" Scotty inquired. + +"In a war," Okola said, quite seriously, "between the _kabunian_, the +gods of the sky world, and the _dalun_, the gods of the underworld. The +_dalun_ won. They took the head and disappeared into the ground +somewhere in Banaue. Behind them, they left a great taboo. If an Ifugao +tries to follow them into the underworld to reclaim the skull, great +misfortune will come. An earthquake will destroy the terraces. The +people will starve. They will be haunted by the _dodingerot_--ghouls who +dwell in tombs and bite the faces of intruders." + +"Then the Ifugaos will take a dim view of our hunting their golden +skull," Rick guessed. + +"They might if they knew about it," Dr. Okola said. "Actually, what I +have just told you is almost forgotten lore. I doubt that the Ifugao man +in the street--or, properly, man in the rice terraces--has ever heard of +it. A few old priests may remember." + +Irineo Lazada clapped his hands and rose. "Coffee in the living room, +gentlemen. You know, I begin to have some hope for this golden skull. I +had not really taken your expedition seriously until Dr. Okola's +recital." + +Tony Briotti picked him up quickly. "Then that is why you have failed to +issue our permit?" + +Rick stopped in his tracks. Was there trouble about their permit? He had +wondered about the reason for this dinner with the Assistant Secretary +of the Interior. Perhaps it was to persuade him. + +Lazada smiled. "The government doesn't want to stir up trouble among the +mountain tribes. We do not have enough constabulary for police duty in +the mountains. A small detachment at Baguio is the best we can do." + +"I assure you that we will not stir up trouble," Tony Briotti said. + +"Of course not. And so I will issue your permit." + +"Thank you, Mr. Secretary," Dr. Okola said. "This will mean a great deal +to the Philippines. Dr. Briotti assures me that Spindrift will not ask +for anything to be removed from the islands. The golden skull, if it is +found, will remain right here, perhaps at the university's museum." + +"Such a treasure would need to be well guarded," Lazada chuckled. "We do +have thieves in the Philippines, as does every other country." Again he +seemed to be licking his lips without actually doing so. + +Over a second cup of coffee they laid their plans. Lazada would instruct +the district road commissioner at Bontoc to co-operate with them in +every way, since that official came under his jurisdiction. Through the +district commissioner they could hire any laborers they might need. The +commissioner also would arrange for Rick's plane to land on the highway +at Bontoc when necessary. Since there was little traffic, landing would +present no real problems. They could use the district office at Bontoc, +and make it their headquarters. + +Dr. Okola sighed, "I can't tell you how sorry I am that you come in the +midst of a school seminar. If you are still searching at the end of next +week, I will join you. But until then, it will be impossible." + +"But you will send us a good guide who knows the area," Tony reminded +him. + +"Yes. He will be at your hotel in the morning. His name is Angel +Manotok, and you can trust him with no hesitation. He speaks Igorot and +Ifugao, as well as the Filipino dialects of this region. He can drive a +truck, and he can cook reasonably well." Okola pronounced the man's name +in the Spanish way, "Ahng-hel." + +"Sounds like a handy guy to have around," Scotty remarked. + +"Yes," Rick agreed. "Besides, it's nice to have an angel in the party." + +The hour was late. The boys and Tony Briotti bade good night to Lazada +and Okola, refused the offer of another coke but accepted a ride back to +the hotel in Lazada's car. As they left the house the boys looked for +Chahda. There was a Sikh at the gate, but he was a big man. Chahda was +not in sight. + +Lazada's car turned out to be a brand-new Cadillac with a special maroon +paint job and a monogram about four inches square on every door. +Evidently the Assistant Secretary believed in personal advertising. + +They were tired. The ride back to the Manila Hotel was made in silence, +except for a brief report to Tony that all was in readiness for the trip +to Baguio on the first leg of their journey. + +At the hotel desk they picked up their room keys. The boys had one room, +Tony another. The rooms were on the second floor, so they walked +upstairs instead of bothering with the slow elevators. + +"Good night, boys," Tony said wearily. He inserted his key and swung the +door open, then stiffened as a crash sounded in the room. Rick and +Scotty snapped out of their weary haziness and leaped into the room +behind Tony in time to see a figure dive headlong from the window. + +Rick yelled in horror. They rushed to the window, expecting to see the +man dead on the ground below. Instead, they saw him swing lightly from +the branch of a flame tree and drop to the ground. He ran across Dewey +Boulevard and was lost in the darkness under the walls of Intramuros. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Inside the Walls + + +"The fire escape!" Scotty yelled. + +Rick was with him on the instant. They ran to the end of the corridor, +threw open the door, and dashed down the fire escape. No word passed +between them as they crossed Dewey Boulevard. At a time like this their +teamwork was automatic. + +They reached the walls of Intramuros, and Scotty went left, Rick right. +Somewhere along the walls, or within the city, was the intruder. The +question was, Had the intruder kept right on going across the walled +city, or was he in hiding, waiting to see whether or not he was being +pursued? If the former, their chances of catching up with him were +almost zero. + +Rick rounded the corner of the wall and had a clear view all the way +down to the Department of Commerce building nearly a half mile away. +There were sufficient street lights to show him that the quarry was not +in sight. + +He saw a breach in the wall a few yards away and hurried toward it. +There was almost no light within the walled city, he suspected, but he +would have to look. The breach turned out to be a pile of rubble. He +would have to go over the wall unless he wanted to search for an +entrance. There wasn't time for that. He climbed up the pile of rubble, +careful about his footholds, and gained the top of the wall. For a +moment he was silhouetted at his full height. + +And in that instant a rifle cracked. He saw the muzzle flame, and in the +next instant he heard the soft smacking sound of the slug as it went +past his ear. There was only one thing to do. He jumped. + +The wall was high, and he had no way of knowing what was below, but it +was better to risk unknown rubble than another shot from the sniper's +gun. + +He landed with knees flexed, struck level ground, but fell forward with +the momentum of the fall. Thorns dug into his hands and he smothered a +grunt of pain. He lay where he was, not moving, waiting for some move +from the sniper and for his eyes to adjust themselves to the dense +blackness within the walls. + +He wondered whether the sniper and intruder were the same man. The +intruder had carried no rifle when he went out the hotel window. But it +was possible that he had cached one somewhere under the wall. + +What could the man have been after? Rick rejected the idea that this was +common thievery. It was possible, but not probable. Especially after the +attack on Tony Briotti aboard the boat. And after finding that Chahda +had gone underground and was posing as a Sikh. + +He was sure something was cooking that boded ill for the expedition. Nor +did he have to rack his brains to find the cause. A golden skull was +reason enough. Mass murder had been committed for less gold many times +before this. + +His eyes searched the darkness, and his ears strained for the slightest +sound, but no movement or noise followed. Yet, unless the sniper were +the world's most silent walker, he could not have slipped away. + +And where was Scotty? + +Again he pondered the mystery of Chahda. The Hindu boy had been +registered at the Manila Hotel, waiting for the Spindrift party. Then, +three days before their arrival, he had checked out and gotten a job as +a guard at Lazada's. The disguise didn't cause Rick much wonderment. +Sikhs, after all, are Indians, and Chahda had once worked for a Sikh +officer in the Bengal Lancers. Rick remembered that from an incident +during the Tibet expedition. It was probable that Chahda had simply gone +to the chief Sikh in Manila--there was always such a leader--and +enlisted his aid. + +But why? + +Rick tensed, sensing a presence near him. He raised on one elbow and +thought he discerned a figure nearby. The figure was close to the wall. +He had a hunch that it was Scotty, but he couldn't be sure. He made no +further movement, waiting to see. + +The figure became clearer, passed close in front of him, and from his +low vantage point the man was silhouetted against the sky, which had a +pink glow from the myriad neon lights of downtown Manila. No doubt of +it, the figure was Scotty's. Rick got to his feet, and staying close to +the wall, moved in the same direction Scotty had taken. + +The inner ground of the walled city was fairly clear, but close to the +walls there was considerable debris. Rick proceeded carefully, trying +not to make a noise. He picked his way through tangles of weeds and +wire, loose stone, and piles of junk that had been accumulating since +the days of the Spanish conquistadors. + +He was tense, and his face was wet with sweat. There was a possibility +that the sniper was gone, but if not, a noise could bring a lethal slug. +Rick thought grimly that the ancient walled city probably had seen many +a murder in the more than three hundred years since the wall had been +built. He had no desire to be the most recent victim. + +Even as the thought crossed his mind, his foot struck the edge of a +twisted sheet of steel. The sheet, all that remained of a Japanese +armored car, rang dully. + +Instantly the rifle flamed. The slug smacked into the stone wall a foot +from Rick's shoulder. He didn't wait for the next shot. He hit the +ground, scuttled a few feet, and stopped in a thorny patch. He grimaced +and risked wiping the sweat off his brow. At least one question was +answered. The sniper had not left. + +Rick knew that the mysterious rifleman could have gotten away before +this. The fact that he was still lying in wait could mean only one +thing. He had known he was being pursued by the Spindrifters, and he had +waited in the hope of picking off one or two of them. + +Fingers of ice laid themselves across Rick's spine. It was no fun being +the object of deadly intentions. He lay very still. + +His hand brushed something soft among the thorns, and he thought he knew +what it was. He was lying in a patch of the tiny pink flowers known as +_cadena de amor_--chain of love. He had seen them everywhere during the +day. They grew like weeds anywhere they were allowed to flourish. + +The humor of it touched him. How romantic his sister Barbara would think +it--to be trailing a desperado through an ancient Spanish city, and to +be flat on one's stomach in a patch of chain of love. If he got out of +this with a whole skin, he would write her about it, omitting such +unpleasant facts as rifle bullets striking too close and thorns among +the flowers. + +But unless he did something about it, he probably would still be lying +there at dawn. He rose to his knees, then to his feet, holding his +breath until lack of response from the rifleman told him he had not been +observed. Then he resumed his slow march in the direction Scotty had +taken. + +All guidebooks to the Philippines mentioned the walled city as a +"must-see" item for tourists, and Rick had intended to take a daytime +tour. This was not a suitable substitute. He would still have to return +by day. He moved on, with extreme caution. He could see nothing but the +upper edge of the wall and the silhouette of the ancient cathedral a few +hundred yards away. But movement of air, a slight thinning of the +darkness, told him when he passed openings in the thick wall. + +Suddenly he stopped, all senses alert. He had heard something. As he +waited, muscles rigid with the strain of listening, he heard a whisper +no louder than the rustle of a moth's wing. + +"Rick?" + +"Yes," he breathed. + +Even though he was expecting it, he gave an involuntary jump when +Scotty's hand touched his sleeve. Scotty's lips touched his ear and the +husky ex-marine whispered almost inaudibly: + +"Gate to the street. Ten paces ahead. I have an empty gasoline drum. +Going to throw it. If he fires and is close enough, rush him. If not, +make for the gate. Can't stay here all night." + +Rick found Scotty's shoulder and squeezed it to indicate agreement, then +he crouched low, ready to move like a plunging fullback in any +direction. + +Scotty moved away. In a moment Rick heard the faint scrape of metal on +stone. He filled his lungs with air, then held his breath, waiting. + +He sensed rather than saw Scotty lift the gas drum over his head. Even +when empty, gas drums weigh quite a bit, but Scotty launched it like a +medicine ball. Rick saw it briefly, a cylindrical shadow against the +sky, then it landed with an appalling clatter, struck sparks from a +stone, and rolled noisily away. + +The rifle flamed one, twice. It was perhaps twenty paces away, and the +shooting was toward the drum. Rick rushed forward, arms outstretched. He +heard a slap like a baseball hitting a glove, then a cry of pain. The +rifle blasted again, muzzle skyward. + +Rick thought he heard a siren wail, but there wasn't time to wonder. He +sprang headlong toward the rifleman. His shoulder struck flesh which +yielded. Then warm metal touched his hand and he grabbed for it. The +rifle barrel! He leaned on it, keeping it vertical, and put his weight +into the job of driving its owner back off balance. + +A blow caught him under the eye and he saw stars. For a moment he +relaxed his grip, then he released the rifle and reached until he found +cloth. He pulled, letting himself go backward as the wearer of the cloth +was pulled off balance. He landed on his back, and a knee in the chest +drove the air out of him. He rolled sideways, fists driving out. One +connected and the shock of hitting bone ran through his knuckles and up +his arm. + +A heavy weight landed on his stomach and he grunted, trying to roll out +from under. Again his fist lashed out and connected. He drew it back for +another punch. + +Brilliant light illuminated the scene. Rick blinked in the glare and saw +Scotty's grim face above him. Scotty had his fist cocked back for a +punch that would have knocked him colder than a raspberry popsickle. + +"Hold it," Rick grunted. Scotty was forcing the air out of him by sheer +weight. + +Running feet pounded the earth and hands jerked both of them to their +feet. Scotty held the sniper's rifle, but the sniper was gone. + +A Filipino policeman looked at them over the sights of a .45 caliber +Colt automatic. Even in the reflected lights of the prowl car's head +lamps, the muzzle looked only slightly smaller than the entrance to +Mammoth Cave. + +Rick's hair lifted. "Put that thing down!" he gulped. + +"Officer," Tony said crisply, "these are the two boys from my party. +They were chasing the burglar." He added, "Apparently they succeeded +only in catching each other. What in the name of an Igorot icebox were +you two trying to do?" + +The boys looked embarrassed. "We had the sniper," Rick explained. "But +we must have got tangled up. I thought the man with the rifle was the +burglar, but it was Scotty." + +"He threw the rifle at me," Scotty said. "I reached for him, swung on +him and connected, then the rifle knocked me down." + +The policeman's running mate came back from a search of the darkness. He +spoke to his companion in Tagalog. + +"No use," the first policeman said. "He is gone. We would need help to +find him, since the walled city is big and has many hiding places. Can +you give a description? By the time help came he could be miles from +here. Perhaps we can get him later." + +Rick knew how hopeless that was. + +"Unless the boys got a better look," Tony Briotti said, "the only thing +I can say is that he was either an Igorot or an Ifugao. Short and +muscular. I saw his haircut--couldn't very well miss it. But not his +face." + +Rick and Scotty hadn't even seen that much. An Igorot or Ifugao? +Probably the latter, since their expedition was connected with the +Ifugaos and not the Igorots. Rick remembered the incident on the +freighter. There was a pattern to this.... + +"I will be the one to take the rifle," the policeman said. + +Rick wondered at the strange flavor of the phrase. But he was to hear it +many times while in the Philippines. "I will be the one...." It was a +literal translation from the Spanish. + +"I will be the one to take the names," the second policeman said, +opening his notebook. "You will have to make charges." + +"No use," Tony replied. "Let's forget the whole thing. We'll never catch +up with the man, whoever he was." + +Nevertheless, the police insisted on names and histories, and it was ten +minutes before the Spindrifters made their way back to the hotel. In the +main dining room they talked over cups of hot chocolate, ignoring the +curious stares of late supper guests who obviously wondered about Rick +and Scotty's disheveled condition. + +Since the boys had not wanted to discuss their personal business in +front of Lazada's chauffeur there had been no chance to tell Tony about +Chahda. Now they did so, and Rick ticked off points on his fingers. + +"Item One: The man on the boat who tried to chop you. Either an Igorot +or Ifugao. Item Two: Chahda checks out of the hotel and appears as a +Sikh guard at Lazada's." + +"You forgot Item Three," Scotty added. "Colonel Felix Rojas. Asked us +what good is hay to a dead horse, and knew we were having dinner at +Lazada's." He described the incident to Tony. + +"Item Four," Rick continued. "We find a prowler in your room. He had a +rifle cached in the walled city and waited around to use it on us. He +was either an Igorot or Ifugao." He spread his hands. "Do we need +anything more? Something is in the wind. But what?" + +"A golden skull," Scotty said. + +"Yes. But we don't have it. Does it make sense for anyone to try to +knock us off before we have it? Shucks, we don't even know where it is, +except that it's somewhere among the rice terraces." + +"Which is like saying that somewhere in the Mohave Desert is a buried +treasure," Scotty added. + +Tony Briotti sighed. "I had heard a great deal about the penchant you +two have for mysteries and excitement. Now I believe everything I've +heard and more. I can't imagine any reason for all these happenings. +They simply don't make sense." + +"They do to someone," Rick said, and Scotty nodded agreement. + +Their waiter approached, an envelope in his hand. "Meester Brant? This +come while you outside. You take?" + +Rick took. "Must have arrived while Scotty and I were battling for the +boxing championship of the walled city." He tore it open. + +"Item Five," he said. "From Chahda. 'Can't come now. Meet you in Baguio. +Watch yourselves. Big danger from Ifugao no palate.'" + +Scotty held his head with both hands. "Great! How do we know whether or +not an Ifugao has no palate?" + +"Look down the throats of every one we see," Rick said wearily. "Or +maybe if an Ifugao has no palate he wears a sign to say so." + +Tony Briotti rose. "That message makes no sense, either. And I make no +sense to myself. It's late. Come on to bed. Maybe everything will clear +up in the morning." + +"Go to bed or go nuts," Rick added. "The choice is easy. But let's bar +the windows. Just to keep the night air out." + +"Amen," Scotty said. "I think I'll break out my rifle and keep it by the +bed. Just in case some of that dangerous night air gets in." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Manotok the Mighty + + +At breakfast the next morning Rick and Scotty were subjected to an +amused scrutiny by Tony. He ticked off the items on his fingers. + +"Rick has a slight mouse under one eye, and his left arm seems a little +stiff. I noticed that he sat down gingerly, and that there is a very +pronounced bruise on the side of his jaw. Hands would indicate that he +has been playing with a rather rough cat, except that I happen to know +he was scrambling around in some cadena de amor. + +"Scotty is also wearing a mouse under one eye, perhaps a little more +prominent than Rick's. And he has a long scratch behind the left ear, +obviously caused by some sharp instrument." + +The archaeologist grinned. "If you do that to each other, what would you +do to an enemy?" + +The boys grinned back. "Can't tell you until we catch an enemy," Rick +replied. "Actually, most of my terrible wounds came from falling down." + +"Same here," Scotty agreed. "And that sharp instrument you mentioned was +the edge of a tin can." + +Tony spooned succulent orange-colored papaya melon with appreciation. +"Have either of you figured out what our Ifugao friend--let's assume +that he was an Ifugao--wanted in my room last night?" + +"The only answer I can think of is the obvious one," Rick answered. "He +probably thought we have a map or something showing the location of the +golden skull. He wanted it." + +"I accept the hypothesis only because I haven't a better one," Tony +said. "How about you, Scotty?" + +Scotty shrugged. "Can't buy it. But on the other hand, I don't have any +theory. Wish Sherlock Holmes were here." + +"We could use him," Briotti admitted. "Well, what's the program for +today?" + +"Off to Baguio," Rick replied. "But first, we'll have to rent or buy a +truck. The plane can't carry us plus our gear, and we'll need the truck +to take our stuff into the mountains. Scotty and I can do that. What are +your plans?" + +"There's an American anthropologist here I'd like to see. He's +internationally known. Name of J. Walter McGowan. I made a tentative +appointment yesterday. I'm sure he will have some information on the +Ifugaos that will be of interest. Probably Okola has included in his +papers on the subject everything McGowan knows, but I'd like to talk +with him just to get the feel of things, so to speak." + +"Then why don't you do that this morning?" Rick suggested. "We'll get +the truck, load the gear, and get ready to take off." + +"Wonder where that Filipino Angel is?" Scotty asked. "Wasn't he supposed +to be here this morning?" + +"I don't think Okola specified a time," Tony replied. "And the morning +is still pretty young." + +That was true enough, Rick thought. Besides, he had the impression that +the Filipinos, although they followed Western customs, had the Far +Easterners' disregard of time. + +"If the Angel doesn't arrive, one of us will have to drive the truck to +Baguio," he said. "I had hoped he would take the truck, then we three +could fly." + +Scotty asked, with deceptive casualness, "Tony, what do you think of Dr. +Okola?" + +Tony answered promptly. "A first-rate scientist and a distinguished +gentleman besides. Why?" + +"Do you trust him?" + +"Implicitly. We're not dealing with a stranger here, Scotty. Okola's +name has been known to me since I first became interested in +archaeology. We have many mutual friends, and he has been very helpful +and courteous since this project was first proposed. Yes, I trust him." + +"That's good," Scotty said, "since we're buying the services of this +Angel purely on his say-so. We'll have to trust Angel. We have no +choice." + +"True. I'm prepared to trust him, simply because Okola said we could." + +Rick nodded agreement. "I'll take him on faith, too." He had learned not +to be overtrustful in far places among strangers, but he agreed with +Tony's estimate of Okola. The man, he believed, was just what he seemed +to be--a Filipino scientist and gentleman. He had liked Okola. + +"All right," Scotty said. "I'll go along. Okola seemed like a real +_compadre_. But how about Lazada? Do you trust him?" + +Tony considered. He finished his papaya, then tackled a mango salad, an +unusual but delicious breakfast dish. "I don't _dis_trust him," he said +finally. "That's negative, but the best I can do. He's not the type of +individual who appeals to me very much, but without further evidence I'd +hesitate to mark him untrustworthy." + +"I have a hunch," Rick said. "My hunch says that Mr. Lazada is crooked +as a helical coil. I wouldn't trust him anywhere, any time." + +Scotty agreed. "I would have said he's no straighter than the cutting +edge of a saw. And he's just about that sharp, too. Trouble with you is, +Tony, you're too civilized. You always see the best in everything, +including people." + +"Don't you?" Tony asked mildly. + +The boys chuckled. Of course they did, and Tony knew it. But on an +expedition like this, their suspicions came to the fore and they +automatically distrusted everyone. Lack of distrust had caused them much +trouble on other expeditions, and had come close to costing them their +lives. + +The headwaiter approached. "There is a man to see Dr. Briotti. Shall I +have him wait?" + +"That must be Okola's man," Tony said. "No, please bring him here." + +The three watched with interest as the headwaiter went to the door and +returned leading a short, dark man. + +Rick examined him with interest. At first glance the Filipino seemed +quite short, as so many of his race are. Then Rick's discerning eyes saw +the breadth of his shoulders. And he saw that the man wasn't really very +short; he only seemed to be because of his extraordinary shoulder width. + +The man was dressed simply but neatly in typical Filipino style with +white trousers and a white shirt. The shirt had no tail, but was cut +square at the bottom like a sport shirt. The collar was sport-shirt +style, too, worn open, and disclosed a muscular throat. + +The man bowed slightly. "Dr. Briotti?" + +"I am Briotti." He indicated the boys. "Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott. And +you?" + +"I am Angel Manotok, at your service. Dr. Okola said that you needed a +driver, guide, and general handyman. He said that he had recommended +me." + +"Yes. Please sit down. Will you have breakfast?" + +"Some coffee, perhaps. I have already had breakfast." + +Angel Manotok had a strong, square face. Rick thought that he looked +very much like an American Indian. His hair was thick and very black, +and freshly cut into a sort of crew cut. + +"You will want to see my papers," Angel said. + +He produced a wallet and extracted several documents. The Spindrifters +examined them. There was a Philippine driver's license, a United States +Army driver's license indicating that the bearer was qualified to drive +military vehicles, an honorable discharge from the Philippine Scouts, +which had been a part of the United States Army, and a certificate from +the Philippine Public Health Service certifying that Angel Manotok, as +of three weeks ago, had been X-rayed and found free of tuberculosis. + +"So you were in the Philippine Scouts," Scotty remarked. + +Angel grinned, showing strong white teeth. "I have been many things, +including a scout. I have also been a lumberjack in Zambales Province, a +gold miner in Baguio, and a farmer in Mindanao." + +"You speak remarkably good English," Tony commented. + +"Thank you, sir. You will notice from my discharge that I was a sergeant +in the Philippine Scouts. I had the advantage of American military +schools. I also attended college--the Ateneo de Manila, which has +American Jesuit priests as teachers. I did not graduate, unfortunately, +but I did learn your language rather better than most Filipinos." + +Rick liked Angel at once. He nodded at Tony and Scotty, and they nodded +back. Tony at once began discussing salary and general arrangements with +Angel. + +When they had reached an agreement, Angel grinned. "Now I can tell you. +Since Dr. Okola was very anxious for me to go, I was prepared to work +for you just for food. But a salary is much better." + +"Much," Tony agreed. "We prefer it that way, too, although I appreciate +your loyalty to Dr. Okola." + +"Where is your baggage?" Rick asked. + +"I left it outside at the desk. I haven't much to carry along. Just work +clothes and a few tools." + +"Where can we get a truck?" Scotty inquired. + +"What kind would you like?" + +Rick answered. "An Army six-by-six, if possible." + +"That can be done. Rent or buy?" + +"Which do you suggest?" + +"Rent. Let me do it for you. I can bargain much better than you can." + +"Fine," Rick agreed. "We'll go with you and watch." + +Angel shook his head. "Better not. If the dealer knows the truck is for +Americans, the price will go up. If he thinks it is for a Filipino, the +price will be low. Let me get a truck--I'll be sure it's a good one--and +meet you here." + +Rick considered. "No, let's make another plan. I want to spend a little +more time checking my plane. Suppose you get the truck, then meet us at +Hangar 18 at the airport. We can come back here and load after lunch. +Then we can fly to Baguio while you follow with the truck." + +"Have you ever driven to Baguio?" Scotty asked. + +"Many times. It takes between six and seven hours, depending on the +traffic. Some parts of the road aren't very good, and traffic piles up." + +"Then if you leave at noon, you should be in Baguio at dinnertime." + +"Yes. Shall I go now? I will need a hundred pesos. That is for a deposit +on the truck." + +Tony opened his billfold. "Let's see. That's fifty dollars. Is American +money all right?" + +Angel smiled. "American money is always all right, everywhere. I will +get a truck and then come to the airport. Yes?" + +"Yes. And glad to have you with us," Rick said. + +Scotty and Tony echoed his remark and they shook hands all around. Angel +tucked the pesos into his wallet and hurried out. + +"Good deal," Scotty said. "He's a lot of man. Notice those shoulders? +And his hands show he's used to work. I like him." + +Rick and Tony did, too, and said so. "I feel better about him going off +alone with our stuff," Rick said. + +"Except for the SS," Scotty added, referring to the earth scanner. "You +heard what he said about the road to Baguio? That's a delicate gadget +and we don't want it banged around too much." + +"You've got a point," Rick agreed. "Suppose we take it with us in the +plane?" + +"Good idea." Scotty rose. "Tony, we'll go on to the airport and meet you +here about eleven thirty. Okay?" + +"That will give me plenty of time." The scientist hesitated. "I know +you'll take care of yourselves. Remember that we have a sniper after us. +Not to mention an Ifugao with no palate. Incidentally, I suspect that +our friend Angel has a little Igorot or Ifugao blood. Did you notice +that he resembles the American Indian?" + +"I did," Rick said. "Would it be unusual for him to have Igorot blood?" + +"Not particularly. There is some intermarriage of Christian Filipinos +with the pagans. Also, Angel may have some Chinese blood, which would +account for the unusually high cheekbones and rather flat face. He +doesn't have the Mongoloid eye fold which gives the appearance of slant +eyes, but that means nothing. Many Filipinos with Chinese blood lack +it." + +"What are the Filipinos, anyway?" Scotty asked as they walked to the +door. + +"Originally, the Filipinos were of almost pure Malay blood. But there +was much intermarriage with the Chinese and the Spanish, and now, +particularly around Manila, _mestizos_, which is what persons of mixed +race are called, are very common." + +Tony hailed a taxi at the door and the boys went to their room. Rick had +put a thread across the bottom of the casement window. It was not +disturbed, nor was the chair he had carefully placed so that anyone +coming through the door would move it slightly. There had been no +prowlers while they were at breakfast. + +The boys opened the case containing the earth scanner and lifted out the +leather carrying cases which contained the electronic controls and +amplifiers and the delicate scanning tube. They carried the cases down +to the lobby and took a cab to the airport. + +The ride was pleasant, since the way to the airport was along Dewey +Boulevard, which edged Manila Bay. Far across the bay they could see the +American Naval Station at Cavite. And to the north was Mariveles +Mountain on Bataan Peninsula. + +Here and there the sail of a banca dotted the brown water. In the +bancas--outrigger canoes--were fishermen. A large part of the Filipino +diet was fish. + +The highway branched away from the bay finally, and a short time later +they arrived at the modern airport, once the American Air Corps base of +Nichols Field. + +The Sky Wagon was as they had left it, apparently undisturbed. But they +were not taking anything for granted. Rick and Scotty checked the plane +over literally inch by inch, searching for signs of tampering. + +As Rick examined the landing struts, a shadow fell across the doorway. +He looked up to see an American watching him. + +The American stepped forward. He was of medium height, with close +cropped sandy hair. He wore a yellow T shirt under a white linen coat. +His trousers were gray rayon, and his footgear was openwork sandals. He +looked comfortable and cool, even in the broiling Philippine sun. Rick +judged him to be about forty years old. + +"Mind if I look?" the man asked. + +"Not at all," Rick answered politely. He hesitated, then introduced +himself and Scotty, who had come around from the other side of the +plane. + +"My name is Nast. James Nast. You must be two of the scientific party I +read about in the Manila _Bulletin_." + +"I didn't know anything about us had been in the papers," Rick replied. + +"This morning," Nast said. He took a tabloid-size paper from his pocket, +unfolded it to the item, and handed it to them. + +The item was brief. It merely stated that a party headed by Dr. Anthony +Briotti, with Mr. Richard Brant and Mr. Donald Scott, had been +entertained by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior at dinner prior +to their departure to Mountain Province to search for primitive +artifacts. Dr. Okola, of the University of the Philippines, local +adviser to the American party, also had attended the dinner. + +"Lazada must have given that to the press," Rick remarked. + +"Probably," Nast agreed. "Filipino politicos are like our own. They live +on publicity. Please don't let me intrude. I came to the airport to meet +a shipment from Hong Kong, but the plane is late, so I've been wandering +around sightseeing." + +"Are you in business?" Scotty asked. + +"Yes. Import-export. I import Chinese silver, both alloyed and pure, and +have it fabricated by Filipinos. Mostly into filigree work. Then I +export it to America. I also import Siamese and Indo-Chinese silks which +are made into all sorts of things and then exported to America. I was +expecting a silk shipment this morning. My agent in Hong Kong gets it +from Siam and Indo-China, and forwards it." + +"Been out here long?" Rick inquired. + +"Since the war. I first came here when I was in the Navy. Liked it so +well I took my discharge here and stayed. Going to be in Manila long?" + +"Just a few hours." Rick wiped sweat from his face. "We're going to +Baguio." + +"So am I. Perhaps I'll see you there." + +"Really? What's Baguio like?" + +"Plenty of local color. And the weather is great. It's high in the +mountains and very cool. You'll sleep under blankets tonight, and so +will I." Nast wiped his face, too. "This shipment goes by truck to +Baguio, and I'm going to ride along with it." He wiped his face again. + +"Why don't you take your coat off?" Scotty asked. + +Nast grinned. "Because I've got a .38 automatic in a shoulder holster." + +The boys stiffened. Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. + +"The road to Baguio isn't the safest in the world," Nast explained. +"It's fairly peaceful now, but bandits still operate up through Pampanga +Province. I carry a gun to discourage interest in my shipments." + +Now that he had mentioned it, Rick could see the bulge of the shoulder +holster. But it was a good job of tailoring and he realized that the +linen jacket had been made to conceal the shoulder gun. + +"The plane from Hong Kong won't be in for at least a half hour," Nast +said. "Mind if I stick around? It's a pleasure to talk to Americans. I +deal mostly with Filipinos out in the _barrios_, the small towns where +my fabricating is done, and I don't see Americans very often." + +"Glad to have you, if you don't mind our going ahead with our work," +Rick told him. + +"Don't let me get in the way. Go right ahead." + +The boys did so, and Rick explained the fine points of the Sky Wagon to +Nast while he worked to check every possible point of sabotage. He liked +talking about the plane. It was something to be proud of. And Nast was +an interested listener who apparently knew something about planes. + +After the check up, they rolled the plane outside and Rick warmed up the +engine. Then, while he was testing the radio, Angel Manotok arrived with +a truck. Rick immediately shut the engine off and got out, curious to +see what Angel had found. Scotty was already looking it over, with Nast +an interested spectator. Rick introduced him to Angel, then asked: + +"Is it in good condition?" + +"Very good. The man said it had been overhauled recently, and I believe +him. The tires are in good condition and there are two spares." + +The truck was a typical Army vehicle with double rear wheels, both front +and rear drive, and a winch on the front. The motor purred sweetly. +Angel had apparently done well. + +Nast asked, "Going to use both the truck and the plane? Or will you +leave the plane at Baguio?" + +"We're not sure," Rick said. "Depends on whether we find a landing place +at Bontoc. Have you been there?" + +"A few times. There are no decent fields. But you could land on the +road. It's black top, and there are few power lines or phone lines. I +think you can do it." + +"Glad to hear that," Rick said, relieved. To Scotty and Angel he said, +"We can go on back to the hotel and load the truck. We'll have to check +the plane engine before take-off, anyway." + +"Think the plane will be safe?" Scotty asked. + +"Sure. We'll put it in the hangar and lock the door. I notice the +airport guards go by pretty often, and besides, the plane has been all +right so far." + +"I guess you're right," Scotty agreed. "But let's put the alarm out, +anyway." + +The alarm was a very loud horn wired into a circuit which caused it to +go off if the plane was so much as touched. Rick set it, then locked the +door of the plane. Removing the key from the lock activated the circuit. +Then they closed and locked the hangar door. The plane would be all +right. + +Nast was talking to Angel Manotok in Tagalog. Angel was replying, but +not very enthusiastically. + +Rick spoke up. "You speak the local language pretty well, Mr. Nast." + +"Have to," Nast said cheerfully. "The Filipino families that work for me +can't speak English, often as not. Well, good hunting. Perhaps we'll +meet in Baguio." + +The boys shook hands. "Good luck to you. Hope your shipment arrives." + +"It will. The planes from Hong Kong are often late. The airport there is +closed in half the time from fog. Good luck." + +The boys got into the truck with Angel and he drove out to the main +highway. + +"What were you and Nast talking about?" Scotty asked. + +Angel took his time about answering. "He just wanted to know when we +were going to Baguio. I think he was making small talk. Maybe he wanted +to show off his Tagalog." + +"Was his Tagalog good?" Rick asked. + +"Yes. Very good." + +Angel said no more, and Rick wondered for a moment. What had Nast really +said? He decided that it wasn't of any importance. Perhaps Nast was one +of those Americans who always talk to people of other lands in a +half-insulting way. Rick had met them--and mighty poor advertisements +for America they were. + +They parked the truck behind the hotel and took Angel to their room. +"We'll get help and have the crates carried down for you." Rick said. + +Angel grinned. "Why bother? You two take one and I'll take the other." + +The boys looked at each other. True, the crates weren't huge, but each +was a hefty load for two men. + +"Stop bragging," Scotty said. The jocular tone of his voice made a +playful challenge of the words. + +Angel took the challenge. He went to the largest crate, swung it easily +to his head, and balanced it with one hand. "Let's go," he said, +grinning. + +Scotty stepped forward, blood in his eye, and tackled the second crate. +He got it up, but it was obvious that it was too much of a load even for +his above-normal strength. Rick lent a hand and they carried the crate +along behind Angel, who walked as though he had a feather pillow +balanced on his head. + +"Manotok the Mighty," Scotty said, and there was genuine awe in his +voice. + +Angel pronounced his name in the Spanish style, _Ahng-hel_, but now he +shifted to the English pronunciation and said, "I'm an angel, and my +strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure." + +The boys laughed. "That was first applied to Galahad, wasn't it?" Rick +asked. + +"Don't know," Angel replied. "But I like it, anyway." + +The crates took up little room in the truck. Angel lashed them in, then +the three went to the main dining room to meet Tony. They had time for a +glass of limeade before the scientist showed up. He came to the table +and asked, "Do you know a man by the name of Nast?" + +Rick's eyebrows went up. "Yes. Met him this morning. Why?" + +"He left a phone message at the desk. Wants you to call him." + +Rick rose and went to the lobby, puzzled. What could Nast want? He got +the number Nast had left. It turned out to be the freight office at the +airport. Then there was a wait while the man was paged. At last he came +to the phone. + +"Brant?... Nast here. Look, I'm terribly sorry to impose on such short +acquaintance, but I want to ask a favor. My shipment came in, but now I +can't get a truck. The one I usually ship on has a regular run, and the +driver took off for Baguio without checking. So I'm stranded. If you +haven't too much of a load, could I ride along with your Filipino +driver? My shipment weighs only two hundred pounds." + +Rick considered. Nothing in the truck would be in any danger. The earth +scanner was safely stowed in the luggage compartment of the plane. + +Nast added, "I'll be glad to pay for the trip. It will save me waiting +over until tomorrow." + +"No need," Rick said. "We'll be glad to accommodate you. Meet you at the +hangar in an hour." He hung up, very thoughtful. Why should his +instincts rebel against doing Nast such a small favor? Again he told +himself that no harm could come of it. Even if Nast were finger-man for +a bandit gang he would get nothing except clothes and ordinary, easily +replaced tools. And it was ridiculous to imagine the American as any +such thing. True, he was not an educated man, but that meant less than +nothing. Education, as such, has little to do with honesty. No, Nast was +just an American sailor who had decided to stay in the tropics, and +apparently was making a go of it in a business way. + +"Let him ride," Rick thought. "It will be okay. He can't do any damage, +I guess...." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Chahda Checks In + + +Rick had expected the flight to Baguio to be a snap, but as it turned +out, he had to call for help. Angel Manotok carried the three +Spindrifters to the airport in the truck, Rick and Scotty riding behind, +then Angel departed for Baguio with Nast and his bundle of silks. + +Rick checked in at the Philippine Aeronautics Commission, seeking +information on the airport at Baguio. He took one look at the approach +pattern and gulped. The approach was between high mountains, down a +valley, and then up a mountainside. What made it worse was that one +mountain looked much like another on the topographical map. + +He exclaimed, "Boy! That's a rugged landing field to find!" + +The Filipino official smiled. "You have maybe Navy flying experience?" + +"No. Why?" + +"Best experience for landing at Baguio is making landings on aircraft +carrier." + +"Thanks," Rick said. "Any advice?" + +"Yes. Go to Philippine Air Lines. Talk to flight dispatcher. PAL flight +leaves here maybe two hours. Just right for you. Fly to rendezvous. +Pretty soon along comes PAL flight and you follow in." + +The advice was good, Rick realized. He could not do better than follow a +regular air-line flight into the field. He did as directed, met the +pilot of the next Baguio flight, a former Filipino pilot in the United +States Air Force, and was told the approximate time the PAL flight would +pass the Kennon Road horseshoe curve for the Baguio approach. + +"Follow the Kennon Road," the pilot advised. "Pick me up when I go over +the curve. You can't mistake the place. Nothing else like it." + +While Rick made arrangements, Tony and Scotty loaded their personal +suitcases into the luggage compartment with the earth scanner. Scotty +started the engine and checked the plane, so that it was warm when Rick +arrived. They took off at once and headed north across the great central +plain of Luzon. + +The landscape below was flat, cut up by creeks and estuaries. It was +perfect rice country. Later they passed Mount Arayat, once the hide-out +of the Hukbalahap--the lawless forces that had been such a threat to +Philippine stability. Ahead of them rose the mountains of northern +Luzon. Within those mountains they would find Baguio and Mountain +Province. + +Rick picked up the Kennon Road without trouble as it wound its way +through the foothills. Staying high, he followed it until he reached a +great switchback curve. A car following that road would literally double +back on itself, he thought. He glanced at his watch. The PAL plane would +be along in about two minutes. The pilot had estimated Rick's flying +time perfectly. Rick climbed, then circled until Scotty saw the +twin-engine transport approaching. + +The PAL pilot waggled his wings, and Rick followed as the air liner +throttled down, swung between mountain peaks, and threaded its way down +a wide valley. Rick gulped. A good thing he had had the experienced +pilot to follow. He would never have found the way alone. The peaks were +completely confusing to someone who had never seen them before. + +The air liner turned suddenly and Rick's heart leaped into his throat. +He thought the PAL plane was flying right into the mountainside. But +such was not the case. The plane settled down on a landing strip that +had been hewn from a mountaintop. It was obvious what the PAL official +had meant when he joked about carrier landings. + +Rick followed the PAL plane in, and had to fight down his instinctive +feeling to gain altitude when he saw the mountainside rushing at him. He +nearly over-shot the landing strip. But then the Sky Wagon was down, and +he taxied toward the control station. + +Scotty wiped his brow. "Some field!" + +"Next time will be okay," Rick replied. "But this time I aged ten +years." + +The Filipino pilot walked to meet them, grinning. "How do you like +Baguio airport?" + +"I've landed on fields I liked better," Rick replied. "Thanks for +leading us in." + +"You're welcome. I remember my first landing. Couldn't fly again for a +week. All I could think of was spreading my passengers all over the +hillside. But only the first time is hard. We fly in and out of here +several times a day, and we've never had a serious accident." + +"Your air line doesn't go in for accidents," Tony Briotti said. "You +have a remarkable safety record." + +"We do our best," the pilot said. "Going into town? I am. I have a car +behind the control shack. Be glad to give you a lift." + +"Thanks a million," Rick answered. "First I have to make arrangements +for my plane." + +The pilot grinned. "None to make. No hangars, no service except gas. +Just stake it down and lock the door. It will be all right." + +It had to be all right. There was nothing else to do. The Spindrifters +took the earth scanner and their personal luggage, then locked the +plane, leaving the alarm activated. As an afterthought, Rick left a +duplicate key with the Filipino field official. Someone might touch it +casually and set the alarm off, and it would sound until the door was +unlocked and relocked again with the key. He explained how it worked and +then joined the pilot and his friends in the official air-line car. + +The pilot dropped them at Muller's, a combination boardinghouse and +old-fashioned inn. They checked in, then climbed a nearby hill for a +view of Baguio. + +As far as the eye could see, there were mountains. Steep ridges and deep +clefts made a picturesque jumble of the landscape. Beyond, over the +ridge, was the Trinidad Valley, a farm garden area where the American +colony of the Philippines got most of its temperate zone vegetables and +fruit. On the other side of town was the Golden Bowl of Benguet, where +fabulous gold mines were worked by Igorot miners clad only in +breechcloths and hard-rock helmets. + +Baguio itself was a modern city in most respects. But the population--a +strange mixture of Christian Filipinos and primitive, pagan Igorots--was +unusual. The Filipinos wore typical Western dress, and actually dressed +pretty warmly. The Igorot men wore the breechcloth, perhaps with a shirt +or sweater, perhaps with nothing at all. Most of the men had tiny +pillbox caps of woven straw on the backs of their heads. The little +round boxes were decorated with such oddments as boar's tusks and coke +bottle caps. The Igorot women wore a tight-fitting skirt of colorful +wool, usually patterned in red or yellow. They wore blouses of +embroidered white cotton, or jackets of colored wool. Their skirts had +balls of yarn on the hips. The women wore no hats. Both sexes were +usually barefoot. + +There were contrasts. For example, next to a great Christian cathedral +was the Igorot dog market. The Igorots were eaters of dog meat. + +But it was not the Igorots or the mountains that had made Baguio famous +and turned it into the summer capital of the Philippines--it was the +climate. While Manila burned in the tropical sun, Baguio, thousands of +feet higher, had cool, fall-like weather. There was hardly a night +during the year when blankets were not comfortable. Even the foliage was +temperate rather than tropical. Baguio had pine trees, a welcome sight +to the Spindrift trio. + +There was a tall, fragrant pine just outside the window of the room +shared by Rick and Scotty. When the boys returned to their rooms to wash +up for an early dinner, Rick leaned out and broke off a pine cone. Then, +by reaching only a bit further, he grabbed a cluster of purple-red +blossoms from a bougainvillea vine that had climbed the tree to their +second-floor height. + +In the comfortable dining room, they chose a table in front of a roaring +fireplace, glad of the warmth. It was chilly in Baguio. While they +waited to be served, Rick mentioned the pine tree to Tony and commented +that it was odd that a tree should be left so close to a building. + +"The forest practices of the Igorots and Ifugaos could well be copied by +us," Tony told the boys. "Anyone who cuts down a tree for anything other +than genuine use is severely punished. In the old days the punishment +might have been loss of his head. That's how much respect they have for +their water supply, which is dependent directly on their forests." + +"You talk as though these were civilized people," Scotty commented. + +Tony grinned. "Depends on what you call civilization. But they have a +very highly developed and complex culture. They have a history, too, +which they know better than we know ours. For instance, an Ifugao can +recite his ancestry as far back as twenty-five generations. Can you?" + +"Not sure I'd want to," Scotty retorted. "Might be a few horse thieves +along the way. Seriously, I see what you mean." + +"Their priests must know all about fifteen hundred different gods and +all the legends and taboos connected with each. No written books to +consult, either. All must be memorized." + +"That certainly proves that they have good memories," Rick said. "I'm +not sure what else it proves." + +"Wait until you see the rice terraces. Now let's order dinner. This cool +air has whetted my appetite like a razor's edge." + +After a delicious meal of broiled steak, fresh vegetables from Trinidad +Valley, and the huge strawberries for which the valley is famous, the +three lingered over coffee and Tony recited more details of the Igorot +and Ifugao way of life, so different from their own. In the midst of the +recital Angel Manotok arrived. + +"Good trip?" Rick asked. + +"Yes. No trouble. The truck is a beauty. What do you want me to do now?" + +Rick handed him the keys to their room. "You're pretty dusty. Wash up, +eat, then go to the airport. You'll find a spare bedroll in the crate +you carried by yourself back at the Manila Hotel. Keep an eye on the +plane, and we'll join you at breakfast time." + +Although there was no reason to suspect that anyone would harm the +plane, none of them felt comfortable about leaving it unguarded. They +were sure it would be safe during the daylight hours, but darkness +afforded an opportunity for sabotage. + +Angel took the keys and went on his way. In a short time he returned, +gave the keys back to Rick, and said, "I'll get supper at a Filipino +place. See you in the morning." + +"Businesslike," Tony said approvingly. "No waste words or motion. I +think we were lucky to get him." + +The boys agreed. "Wonder how he and Nast got along?" Rick queried. "I +forgot to ask him." + +"He probably dropped off Nast and his silks before he came here," Scotty +commented. + +At Tony's suggestion they walked around town, taking in the interesting +marketplace, the several cathedrals, the summer palace of the +Philippines president, and the parks. Baguio was different--and very +peaceful and pleasant. As they walked, they discussed their plans for +the next day. + +Rick and Tony were to fly to Bontoc, which was still in Igorot country, +then cross the mountain to Banaue, which was the objective of the trip, +land of the Ifugaos and home of the fabled rice terraces. It was to be a +non-stop trip, mostly to familiarize Rick with the terrain. At the same +time, Scotty and Angel were to go by truck to Bontoc, several hours' +drive to the north. They would remain overnight. If Scotty could arrange +a landing place for the Sky Wagon, he would phone Rick at Muller's. Then +Rick and Tony would fly up the next morning. Scotty was a pilot himself, +so he knew the requirements for a good landing strip. + +If no suitable landing place were available, Rick and Tony would hire a +jeep and drive to Bontoc. Jeeps were common in the Philippines, since +they were ideal vehicles for the back country. Hiring one would present +no problems. + +With no landing place available, the Sky Wagon would not come into use +until the expedition found artifacts of value. Then Rick would return to +Baguio, get the plane, pick up the discoveries by cable, and deliver the +stuff to Okola in Manila for safekeeping and preliminary examination. + +The exercise and the cool freshness of the air made them sleepy, and +presently, by mutual consent, they returned to Muller's. + +"Might as well get to bed early," Tony said. "Then we can be up at dawn +and get off to an early start. Good night, boys." + +The boys bade him good night and went to their own room, a few doors +down the hall. Scotty unlocked the door and swung it open, then let out +a yell of joy. Chahda was sprawled on one of the beds, reading a +magazine! + +The Hindu boy was dressed in Western clothes, slacks and a sports +jacket. + +He looked up as the door opened. "Hi," he said casually. "Nice walk?" + +It was as though they had left him reading while they went for a stroll. +Chahda's casualness was too much for Rick and Scotty. They dove for him, +hauled him out of the bed, and pummeled him with sheer delight. Finally +Chahda yelled for mercy. + +"I give in! Plenty okay! I glad to see you, too. Please do not break +leg, may need it." + +"You no-good swami," Scotty said. "What's the idea of playing Sikh?" + +The boys sat down on the bed opposite Chahda. + +"Talk," Rick commanded. "What kind of gag is this?" + +"Best way to learn about people is to be one of them," Chahda said with +dignity. "I have been Filipino and Sikh. Now I become Igorot. First I +learned about this new country from Alm-in-ack. Says this largest group +in Malay Archipelago. What is archipelago, please?" + +Rick saw the twinkle in Chahda's eye and knew that their friend was +following his usual custom of teasing them. "Archy Pelago is the black +sheep of the Pelago family," he said. "Archy first fell from grace when +he got into a fight with neighbors. It was a real melee. Hence his +nickname. Melee Archy Pelago...." + +A pillow caught him in the face, smothering his words. Scotty pushed him +over on the bed and sat on him. + +"Come on, Chahda. I'm so curious I could spring a seam. What's going +on?" + +Rick squirmed, got nowhere, and finally sank his teeth into Scotty hard +enough to get results. Scotty let out a yell that could have been heard +in Singapore. + +Tony Briotti pounded on the door and called, "How do you expect the +paying guests to sleep with that racket going on?" + +The boys let him in and introduced Chahda. Tony shook hands with the +Hindu boy. "I was beginning to believe you were a figment of the +well-known Spindrift imagination. It's a pleasure to meet you." + +"Likewise am honored to meet brilliant young scientist," Chahda said +politely. "My worthless friends tell me they even call you by nickname, +while other scientists are called by title. This is mark of high esteem, +I think. Glad to meet you, _Sahib_ Tony." + +"Chahda was just going to give us the low-down," Rick said. + +"That what the yelling was about?" Tony asked. + +"Scotty yelled," Rick said. "Mosquito bit him." + +"That mosquito is going to get swatted when he least expects it," Scotty +promised. "Come on, Chahda. Spin us a yarn." + +"Okay." Chahda sat cross-legged on Rick's bed. "You know I went to +Manila Hotel. For three days I waited. Then one day I sit next to famous +Assistant Secretary of Exterior." + +"Interior," Rick corrected. "Lazada." + +"Yes. Soon he is met by a friend who sits with him. This friend is not +known to me then. But I listen. I hear Lazada's friend say that soon +come Americans who will desec--What is ruin religious things, please?" + +"Desecrate," Tony supplied. + +"Yes. Do that to sacred Ifugao things. This friend begs Lazada not to +give permit." + +The three Spindrifters were sitting on the edges of the beds now, +concentrating on every word. + +"Friend says Americans will dig up rice terraces, looking for gold. +Sacred objects of gold will be carried away, and earth-cokes and drafts +will fall on Ifugao people." + +"Earthquakes and droughts," Rick corrected. + +"That is what I said," Chahda nodded. "Lazada objects that these are not +real gold things, and the friend says they are. Real gold. Much gold. +All very sacred. Again he begs Lazada not to allow this sacker-ledge." + +"Sacrilege." + +"Yes. Anyway, Lazada says Americans have much influence. He does not +know if he can stop them. But he will try. I do not believe he talks +truth. His looks do not make me trust him. You know?" + +The boys knew. + +"When friend leaves, I think I follow him. He starts out, then he meets +American on steps of hotel. I get close and listen. He says to American, +how you like to add gold to your smuggle into China?" + +Rick whistled. He had heard that smuggling gold from the Philippines +into China was big business. + +"American says plenty like. Where is gold? Lazada says we not talk here, +you come to my house tonight--no, tomorrow. Got big official dinner +tonight, and there is plenty time. Then I decide I must know more. So I +go to Number One Sikh in Manila and tell him he has new strong boy to be +guard at Lazada's, after I make sure Lazada has Sikh guards. This is +arranged. No trouble." + +Chahda always made it sound dramatic but easy, Rick thought. He doubted +that it was as simple as the Hindu boy made out. + +"American comes, and I am not able to hear much of talk. But I get +American's name. You know him. Since this morning." + +"Nast!" Rick exclaimed. + +"Yes. Also comes to Lazada's house the Filipino friend, but he is not +Filipino. He is Ifugao. About him I do not know, except that he is +called No Palate. Or something like that. I would like to follow him, +but I think better I stay with Lazada. Good thing, too, because Nast +comes again, and this time I listen. Lazada tells Nast first to meet +you, so you will know and trust him. Then Nast is to get in touch with +No Palate. Lazada says he has told No Palate that he cannot keep permit +from you, but that American friend will help keep you from digging up +Ifugao sacred things." + +Chahda shrugged. "What am I to do? I stop being Sikh. My Number One Sikh +buddy-chum helps me meet Igorot who used to be scout for constabulary. +Name of Dog Meat. Fine name, huh? Dog Meat will help. I hire him. Need +helper named Dog Meat for sure." He grinned. + +The boys chuckled, and Tony explained, "That is actually a very +honorable name. Dog meat is a ceremonial meat among the Igorots." + +"Best reason I've heard for hiring anyone in a long time," Rick +commented. + +Chahda continued, "This morning I try to catch you at Manila, but reach +hotel too late, then reach airport too late. But I do some watching, and +I find out man with same describing as Nast has been visiting with you +at airport. You already gone. Nast already gone. Dog Meat and me, we +take next PAL plane to Baguio. When get here, there is your Sky Wagon. +At least I think it is yours, because it is like you told me in your +letter. So I come here, but not come directly to room, because I think +maybe better I stay undercover. So climb tree and come in window." + +The Hindu boy made a gesture of "all done." "Next time you see me, I be +Ifugao. Or maybe Igorot. Maybe even Kalinga." He named another related +pagan group. "Will decide when I see what is to be did. But already have +name." He smiled blandly. "Name myself for Scotty." + +Rick moved out of the line of fire. + +Chahda bowed. "Meet Cow Brain." + +Scotty reached for him. Tony and Rick ducked. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Igorot Country + + +Rick and Scotty awoke the next morning with a feeling of well-being. +After the heat of Manila the cool air of Baguio had caused them to sleep +like logs. Also, things appeared to be going well, and Chahda finally +had contacted them. + +The contact had been a brief one. Chahda had gone, promising to keep in +touch with them as best he could. The Hindu boy was on the trail of +James Nast, hoping that by keeping close watch he could anticipate, and +perhaps prevent, any action Nast might try to take against the Spindrift +party. + +"Dog Meat," Rick said, grinning, as the two knocked on Tony Briotti's +door. "It may be a fine old ceremonial name in this part of the world, +but to me it's just a meal for Dismal." + +Dismal was the Brant family pup. When Rick thought of the pagans eating +dog, he always thought of Dismal served up as a roast, and the thought +made him ill. He had decided that he might admire the fine qualities of +the Igorot and Ifugao people, but the mental image of Dismal among the +poor, beaten mongrels in the dog market would always keep him from being +really fond of them. + +Tony failed to answer the door. "Probably gone down to breakfast +already," Scotty said. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Chahda won't +have much trouble finding Nast. Baguio isn't very big and there aren't +very many Americans. Wonder what Nast will try to do?" + +Rick shrugged. "How can we guess? There are so many things about this +part of the world we don't know. He might have two dozen slick tricks up +his sleeve. The best thing we can do is be on guard all the time. I'm +glad we sent Angel out to guard the plane." + +As they passed the hotel desk, the clerk hailed them. "Mr. Brant? A +message for you." + +"Probably from Chahda," Rick said. But he was wrong. The note was from +Tony, and it made Rick's eyes widen. He read it aloud: + +"'Dear boys. Woke up at dawn with something nagging at me. It broke +through my thick skull while I was having coffee. The Ifugao No Palate +must be Nangolat. It's the name Okola mentioned--his prize student. I +know of no other Ifugao with even a less remote connection. Also, the +shape of Angel's face bothers me. I am going to the airport on a hunch. +Be back about eight, with Angel.'" + +Scotty pointed to a wall clock. It was nearly nine o'clock. They had +slept late. + +The two boys, without a word, ran for the door. Outside the hotel a +Filipino taxi waited. They jumped in and gasped in one voice: "Baguio +Airport!" + +"The chucklehead," Scotty groaned. "Why didn't he wake us up? Why did he +have to go alone?" + +"Relax," Rick said, but he didn't really mean it. "It was just an idea +he had that this Ifugao might be tied up with Angel. After all, Okola +recommended Angel." He recognized the fallacy in his argument as soon as +the words were out, but Scotty was already pointing to it. + +"Yes. Angel is Okola's boy, and so is this Nangolat. What's more likely +than their being close friends? Angel could be giving Nangolat a helping +hand." + +The taxi climbed the winding streets of Baguio, passed the American +military rest camp and the Baguio residence of the American ambassador, +and finally entered the airport. + +One quick look around the field showed them that the truck was missing. +The Sky Wagon was waiting by itself. On Rick's quick instructions the +taxi raced to the plane. They got out and took a quick look. + +"No sign of damage," Scotty said. "Let's ask at the airport office." + +The office was closed. It was operated by Philippine Air Lines, and was +only kept open during the day, starting one hour before the day's first +flight to Manila or from the big city. The first flight on this day was +not until ten thirty. + +A pair of workmen with shovels were scratching listlessly at the gravel +on the opposite side of the field. The boys jumped into the taxi and +told the driver to cross the field. + +Rick leaned out. "Did you see a truck?" + +The men smiled and nodded. + +"How long ago?" Rick called. + +The men smiled some more, then shrugged. + +The Filipino cab driver spoke to them in Ilokano, the Christian dialect +of the province. They answered briefly, smiled at the boys again, and +went back to scratching at the gravel. Apparently they were supposed to +be leveling the shoulders of the runway. If so, the shoulders would be +stooped with age before they were finished. + +The Filipino cab driver turned to the boys. "Sir, these men not see +truck. They be here since maybe two hours. No truck." + +"But they said they did!" Scotty exclaimed. + +Rick interrupted, "Ask them if they saw an American, alone." + +The driver exchanged quick syllables with the workmen. "They see +American. He get in sedan which waiting for him, and go off." + +"Who was in the sedan?" + +Again the driver translated. "They not see. It on other side of field. +Only know maybe three men, maybe American, maybe Filipino. They not +know." + +"Take us back to the hotel," Rick commanded. "And thanks for +interpreting for us." + +"They said they saw the truck," Scotty insisted. + +Rick shook his head. "Remember what Tony once told us. Never ask a +question that can be answered yes or no, or the answer will be yes +whether that's the answer or not. That's as true in the Philippines as +it is in China or anywhere else in the Orient. I don't think they saw +the truck, but I'm sure they did see Tony go off in a sedan. I'm +worried, Scotty." + +"Same. Of course the men in the sedan could just have offered Tony a +lift back to the hotel." + +"What were they doing at the airport? The sign on the office door said +the first flight from Manila was at ten thirty. No one uses the field +but PAL, a few travelers like us, and maybe military planes." + +"I don't believe he just got a lift. But it's a possibility." + +"We'll soon know," Rick said. "Driver, please hurry." + +The Filipino grinned. "Sor, would like to please customer. But hurry on +these roads is break the necks, I think so." + +"He's right," Scotty agreed. "We'll get there soon enough." + +Within a few moments they were back at the hotel. Rick paid the driver +and thanked him for the help, then they ran in and confronted the clerk. +"Is Dr. Briotti back?" + +"I haven't seen him, gentlemen. Just a moment please." The clerk looked +in Tony's box. "His key is not here. Have you called his room?" + +"Not yet. Would you have seen him if he came in?" Rick asked. + +"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I've been doing some paper work, and unless he +came to the desk, I might not notice him." + +The boys nodded their thanks and hurried up the stairs to Tony's room. +They tried the door, then knocked loudly. There was no answer. They +knocked again, waited, then stared at each other bleakly. + +"Now what?" Rick had a feeling that Tony was in danger. He didn't know +why he felt that way when the only news they had was that he had gone +off in a sedan with three men. The workmen hadn't said that he had +fought, or that he had been pulled into the car. He voiced his thoughts +as he followed Scotty to their room. + +"That means nothing," Scotty pointed out. "He probably wouldn't argue +with a gun pointing out the window at him. The workmen probably wouldn't +have noticed a pistol barrel." + +"You're right, as usual. Well, what now?" + +"Call the cops?" + +"What would we say? Tony hasn't been gone more than an hour or two, so +far as we know. That's not reason enough to call the cops. We couldn't +tell them about Chahda and what he said. They wouldn't believe any such +stories about their Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and if they +did, they'd probably be afraid to do much about it. If Tony doesn't show +up in another hour or two, we probably ought to call the police. But not +yet." + +Scotty had worn a jacket because the morning was cool. But now the room +was warm, and he went to the closet to hang it up. + +"Hey, Tony must have taken the earth scanner with him." + +Rick was in the act of sitting down on his bed. He bounced up like a +rubber ball. "What? He couldn't have!" + +"Well, it's gone. And who else would have taken it?" + +"Tony didn't. He hasn't been in this room, except last night when Chahda +was here, and he didn't take the scanner then." + +Scotty snapped his fingers. "You gave Angel your key and told him to +clean up!" + +Rick slumped down on the bed again. That was it, of course. It had to +be. No one else had had the chance to get the equipment, barring the +possibility that the hotel personnel were dishonest, and there was no +reason to suspect them. + +"Then the equipment went with him last night. And we didn't notice until +now. But we would have noticed if it had been gone, wouldn't we? I've +been to the closet a dozen times and so have you." + +"Means nothing. I don't know why I noticed just now that the stuff was +gone. But there was nothing to call our attention to it last night or +this morning. Anyway, it was behind my big suitcase--I know. I knocked +the suitcase over when I closed the closet door this morning, and I +didn't stop to pick it up. It's still on its side. That's why I noticed +that the earth scanner wasn't there." + +"If we needed any proof that Angel is a bad one, probably in cahoots +with Nangolat, we have it. Scotty, what are we going to do?" + +"Call the cops," Scotty said grimly. "Now we have a theft to report." He +strode for the phone, but before he could pick it up there was a sharp +ring. Scotty answered. "Yes?" He listened, hung up hastily, and turned +to Rick. + +"The clerk says there's a Filipino in the lobby who wants to see us. +Says he knows us." + +"Chahda! It must be. He's posing as a pagan of some kind, and we don't +know any other Filipinos." + +Rick's thoughts were expressed as he and Scotty ran down the hall, then +took the stairs four at a time. + +"That's not Chahda!" Scotty pointed to a big Filipino who was striding +back and forth in front of the desk. The man was Scotty's size, and +built in about the same proportions. Around his head was what at first +glance appeared to be a kind of turban. At second glance the boys saw +that it was a thick bandage. + +The Filipino saw them and came toward them with quick strides. His face +probably was pleasant most of the time, but now it was grim, his mouth +creased in lines of pain. + +"Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott?" + +"Yes," Rick said. "And you...." + +"I am Angel Manotok!" the Filipino said. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Bontoc Road + + +"Dr. Okola instructed me in what I was to do," the real Angel Manotok +said. "Nangolat was present. He was very helpful. He even gave me the +name of an Ifugao priest who would help us. A man by the name of +Poison." + +Angel didn't seem to think the name was odd, so Rick said nothing. + +"I live alone," Angel continued. "I went home that evening to pack my +stuff, so I would be ready to go to the hotel to meet you early in the +morning. Nangolat was waiting, and he had a gun. He made me turn around, +then he said, 'Angel, I am sorry. I only do this for the good of my +people, not for myself.' There was a great blow on the back of my head +and I knew nothing more. I woke up in the St. Luke Hospital. They said I +had a fractured skull, at first. But they were wrong." + +"Thank heavens," Rick said. "You were lucky." + +"So lucky," Angel agreed. "What I can never know is why Nangolat did not +take my head. Before, I thought he was very civilized and intelligent. +But when I saw him in my nipa hut, he was crazy. He did not talk crazy, +but he was. It was in his eyes. When I saw him and the gun in his hand, +and then I saw his eyes, I knew I was dead. But I did not know why, +because he was my friend." + +"Do you know why now?" Scotty asked. + +"No. It does not matter. It only matters that he was my friend and he +gave me no chance. He did not fight me, although we are evenly matched. +He struck me from behind. I will go with you now to the Ifugao country, +and perhaps we will find this Nangolat. When I find him I will know what +to do." + +Angel's tone was not angry, nor did he sound as though he were +threatening. It was as though he had said that tomorrow it would rain. +But Rick and Scotty decided that they would not like to be in Nangolat's +shoes. + +"Did you tell Dr. Okola?" Scotty asked. + +For the first time, Angel's eyes fell. "No. I was ashamed to him." + +Rick recognized the odd phrase as a literal translation of a Spanish +idiom. He also understood why Angel had not told Okola. The Filipino +archaeologist had entrusted the Americans to Angel's care, and Nangolat +had taken his place. It didn't matter that Angel couldn't help it. He +had lost face. He would not return to Okola until he had made amends. + +"If your head was so badly hurt that the doctors thought your skull was +fractured, I'm surprised that they let you out of the hospital," Rick +said. + +"They did not let me. I walked out. Then I caught rides until I got into +Baguio a few minutes ago. If you had not been here, then I would have +followed you to Bontoc." + +Scotty asked, "Angel, what do you know of Mr. Irineo Lazada?" + +Angel spat. "He has power. He has many friends. All his friends are +thieves. Some are mighty thieves, but he is the greatest one of all. The +Secretary, who is his boss, is a fine man, and he will believe no evil +of this Lazada. No one will speak against him so the Secretary and +President can hear, because if such words are spoken, the body of the +speaker will be found floating down the Pasig next morning. This is +understood by all, and those who have proof are afraid. I have no proof, +or I would speak myself. To know is one thing. But to prove is another." + +"Do you know an American named Nast?" + +"Yes. He is a smuggler. Again, there is no proof. Sometimes the ones who +smuggle for him are caught, but he is not, because he does no smuggling +himself." + +"What does he smuggle?" Rick asked. He was searching for some clue that +might be useful. + +"Anything. Chinese who cannot get visas to enter the Philippines. He +brings many of them up from Borneo. Crude rubber. Gems from Siam. He +used to run guns, but the supply ran out. They were American war surplus +guns, stolen by the truckload after the war and sold to smugglers like +Nast. Now there are no more." + +"What's Lazada's tie-up with Nast?" + +Angel shrugged. "This is gossip. Lazada has a yacht. Who would search +the private yacht of the great Assistant Secretary? Even though it was +well known that the yacht had been to Macao or Hong Kong and was loaded +with contraband?" + +Rick swiftly outlined the events of the morning to Angel. "We must find +Dr. Briotti," he concluded. "What do you suggest?" + +Angel thought it over, now and then raising a hand gingerly to his +bandaged head. "Everything Nast wants is in the Ifugao country, no? He +can only want the gold, and it is there. When Dr. Okola told me of this +golden skull you seek, I was afraid, for there are still many bad men in +the Philippines who want gold. Now Nast is after it. Maybe others. I do +not think Nangolat wants gold, but he is an Ifugao. Also, his interest +is in the Ifugao country. It can be nowhere else." + +Angel's English sometimes had a queer, rather formal phrasing, but it +was clear. And so, apparently, were his thoughts. Rick accepted his idea +about everything pointing to the Ifugao country. + +"Then we should go to Ifugao." + +"You have a plane. We should fly over the road to Bontoc and look for +the truck and the sedan with Dr. Briotti. If we see them, we can come +back to Baguio and telephone. The road to Bontoc is one way only. Only +one car at a time can travel." + +"One way?" Scotty inquired. "You can't mean that. How would people get +back and forth?" + +"I am not clear," Angel apologized. "What I mean is the road is too +narrow for cars going both ways. So the road has been divided in parts +by gates. Maybe a car is going to Bontoc. It arrives at Gate One. The +gatekeeper lets it through, then he calls Gate Two and says he has let a +car come north. Maybe another car is going from Bontoc to Baguio. He +reaches Gate Two, and the gatekeeper makes him wait until the car from +Gate One reaches him. Then he lets the car to Baguio go through and +calls the gatekeeper at Gate One and says a car is coming. Then he lets +the car going to Bontoc go through his gate and he calls Gate Three and +says that a car is coming." + +"I see," Scotty nodded. "One gate at a time. A car might be able to go +through three or four gates, and then have to wait for a car coming the +other way." + +"That is it. There are many gates. I forget exactly how many. Also, to +get from Bontoc to Banaue there is a road with gates." + +Banaue was in the Ifugao country, in the heart of the rice terraces. It +was their destination. + +"Let's go," Rick said. + +He had worked out a plan. The plane could scout the road quickly and +easily. By air it was only a short distance to Bontoc, but by road it +was several hours of driving because of the twists and turns. If they +could spot the truck or a sedan with four men in it, they could return +to Baguio and phone, and the vehicles could be held up at one of the +many gates. + +Scotty's thoughts were apparently the same, because Rick knew exactly +what he meant when he said, "The sedan will give us trouble. We'll just +have to hope that we can fly low when we see one, and try to catch a +look at the people in it." + +"That won't be very satisfactory," Rick said. "When we get to the +airport, we'll have Angel pump those workmen some more. If they're still +there. Like a pair of real meatheads, we forgot to ask for details, such +as what color the sedan was." + +They were fortunate. The workmen were still pecking away at the runway +shoulders. And they did recall the color of the sedan. It was dark +green. But they didn't know enough about cars to know the make, and they +had noticed no special details. + +"Have you flown before?" Rick asked Angel. + +"Yes. But not in such a little plane. Only the big PAL planes." + +The air-lines office was open now. Rick got his keys, arranged for +gasoline, and they moved the Sky Wagon into position. There was plenty +of gas for a short trip, but he was taking no chances. He wanted a full +tank. + +It took time to recheck the plane carefully, to make sure Nangolat had +not sabotaged it. Then, finally, they were on their way. Scotty had a +map spread across his knees and Angel had another. Scotty's map showed +topographical details like the height of mountains and their contours. +Angel had an excellent road map distributed by one of the American +gasoline companies that maintained service stations in many parts of the +islands. + +Angel watched the roads and Scotty the mountains, and they got on the +Bontoc Road with no trouble. Rick climbed until they could see for +miles. It was the only way to follow the tortuous route of the road as +it wound between mountains, hugged the side of high peaks, and dipped +into forested valleys. + +Now and then they could see an Igorot village far below, but this was +mostly uninhabited country. On Scotty's map, not so far away, were great +white patches marked with a single word: UNEXPLORED. It seemed +incredible that after nearly fifty years of American Government and a +few years of independence, the island of Luzon, seat of the capital, had +unexplored areas. But it was true. + +Rick knew that he need not watch the road carefully for a little while, +except to follow it. If the truck and sedan were headed for Bontoc and +Banaue they had a good start. He doubted that they were traveling +together. + +"You know," he said, "we're not so smart." + +"I've always known it," Scotty replied. "But what have we done that's +especially stupid?" + +"We could have phoned the first gate and asked if the truck and sedan +had passed through." + +Scotty groaned. "You are so right!" + +Angel spoke from the rear seat. "True, true! It is my fault. I am +ashamed to you that I did not think of it." + +Rick suspected that it hurt Angel to be so humble and admit that he was +ashamed. He looked like a proud man, one used to holding his head high. + +"We liked Nangolat," he said. "We thought he was Angel Manotok. He had +all your papers. We didn't doubt him because he looked like a fine man. +We were taken in, all right." + +Angel seemed to cheer up a little. "Yes? Then perhaps you understand how +it was easy for him to catch me and try to kill me when I also liked him +and thought he was my friend." + +"That's easy to understand," Scotty told the Filipino. "No one could +blame you, Angel." + +"You are good to say it," Angel replied. He seemed relieved. + +Rick knew that they had made a friend by expressing their understanding. +Before, Angel would have done his best because of Okola. Now, he +thought, Angel would do his best because he knew they were friendly and +understood how a man's pride can be hurt even when it is not his fault. + +"We'd better start keeping an eye peeled," Scotty advised. + +They flew in silence, inspecting the road below. There was almost no +traffic. Since leaving Trinidad Valley they had seen only the Bontoc +bus, a brilliant orange speck on the road below, and two jeeps. They had +identified the gates easily. Once they passed a gate where a south-bound +panel truck waited. Rick knew that the truck driver couldn't know what +kind of vehicle he waited for, but from the air it could be seen that +the Bontoc bus was the only moving thing between the two gates. + +The Sky Wagon was just above the tops of a series of mountain peaks and +steep ridges. The road clung to the sides of the peaks like a dusty +brown ribbon. Rick turned up the heater a little because it was cold at +eight thousand feet. + +Then he lost the road. So did Angel and Scotty. Astonished, Rick +circled. He picked up the road again, followed it, lost it once more. + +"Where does it go?" he wondered. + +"Let's go see," Scotty suggested. + +Rick examined the terrain. Their quarry might be on the lost section of +the road. He had the choice of going down for a look, or finding where +the road emerged and circle for a while. He elected to go down. + +The Sky Wagon lost altitude in a long slip toward the valley floor. Rick +and the others kept an eye on the point where the road vanished, and in +a few moments the mystery was solved. The road reached a cliff +approximately a mile long and a half mile high. The road was about two +thirds of the way up. To get past the cliff it had been necessary to cut +a shelf into the cliff itself. + +"Wow! Notching that cliff must have been some job!" Scotty exclaimed. +"No wonder we couldn't see the road from the air." + +Rick flew parallel to the cliff until he had to climb to get over a +ridge. Below, the road emerged from the overhang and was clearly visible +again. He gained altitude. + +"Just had a happy thought," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if the weather +closed in? Here we are flying visual contact through some of the +trickiest mountains I've ever seen. I'm going to keep an eye on the +compass. You two concentrate on the road. If we do get weather, I want +to be able to fly a reasonable course back to Baguio." + +"Didn't you get a weather briefing at the airport?" Scotty asked. + +"Yes. Such as it was. Mostly it was local Baguio conditions and a brief +report on Manila." + +"Something ahead," Angel called. + +"I see it," Scotty answered. "A truck of some kind. Take a look, Rick." + +Rick surveyed the landscape ahead, saw that he would not get into +difficulty by losing altitude, and went down for a look. He couldn't get +closer than a thousand feet, but that was ample. It was a load of +lumber, although the truck was much like theirs. + +"What color is it?" Scotty asked. + +"Hard to tell. Ours was gray. This one looks brown." + +"Could be dust," Angel offered. "Dirt road below, plenty dusty. But +there are lumber mills up in this part of the province. Perhaps that is +just one of their trucks. You had no lumber, did you?" + +"No. Our truck had only two crates on it. Besides, Angel--I mean +Nangolat--must be far beyond this point. He left last night early." + +"How do you know?" Angel asked curiously. + +"Yeah," Scotty echoed. "You sound sure." + +"He got the scanner, didn't he? There was a risk that we might find out +that it was gone. He wouldn't hang around the airport knowing that we +might find out about the theft, would he?" + +"Good point," Scotty agreed. + +"I heard of this earth scanner," Angel said. "Dr. Okola told me. It +takes pictures of what is inside the ground, no?" + +"Not exactly pictures," Scotty said. "It shows a kind of wave pattern. +You'll see how it works." + +Rick snorted. "Optimist. What makes you so sure?" + +"We'll get it back," Scotty said calmly. "No smart Ifugao is going to do +us in the eye, chum. Not without a fight. We'll find Tony and we'll find +the scanner. Then we'll clobber pal Nangolat--or let Angel do it--and +get to work." + +"What do we do with Nast?" + +"We get nasty with Nast." + +Rick groaned. "That pun, pal, is strictly cornball." + +"I've always wanted to be a pun pal," Scotty said. + +Far ahead, green shelves gave a regular pattern to the base of one +mountain. Rick pointed them out to Angel. "What's that?" + +"Igorot rice terraces." + +"Igorot? I thought the rice terraces were Ifugao." + +"The Igorots have them, too. They are not so--I don't have the word for +it. Big, make one open the eyes in wonder, very fine. The kind of thing +that makes you feel surprise here." Angel put his hand on his stomach. + +"Breath-taking?" Scotty suggested. "Spectacular?" + +"Yes. Both. These Igorot terraces are nothing. Wait until you see the +terraces at Banaue." + +Three pairs of eyes scanned the road ahead. It was deserted. + +"Tell us about rice," Rick asked. "There was rice below when we flew to +Baguio, too." + +"Yes. A great deal of rice. You passed over Pampanga Province, which is +called the rice bowl of the Philippines. That rice is grown in paddies, +which are fields with little earth walls around them called dikes. The +paddies can be flooded. Rice needs much water. Down there, though, the +land is flat." + +Scotty pointed to a razorback ridge. "This land sure isn't flat." + +"No, but the Igorot and Ifugao workers make it flat by building +terraces. Each terrace is like a little paddy. It can be flooded, just +as the lowland paddies are. The water comes from the mountains in pipes +made of bamboo." + +"It must be quite a water system," Rick observed. + +"Yes. There are miles of bamboo pipes, but no water is wasted. The water +is put into the upper terraces, then it runs by itself through openings +down to the lower terraces." + +"Is the rice the same?" + +"Nearly. There is another kind called highland rice that is planted like +wheat. We have a little wheat, too, but not enough to feed many people. +The highland rice is not very good. Paddy rice is better." + +Rick was interested. He continued his questioning. "Are the paddies +flooded all the time?" + +"Oh, no. They are flooded before the rice is planted. You know we do not +plant seed in the paddies? We plant baby rice plants which are grown in +special places. The little plants are pushed into the mud after the +paddy is flooded. Then the water is left for a while. But if we left it +all the time, the plants would rot. So after a while we let the water +out and only let in enough to keep the rice growing." + +They were over the terraces now. Beyond them, Rick saw brown houses that +looked like beehives. It was an Igorot village. + +"We'll reach Bontoc soon," Angel said. + +"No truck and no sedan," Scotty added unhappily. "They couldn't have +reached Bontoc, could they?" + +"The truck could have, easily, if Nangolat drove during the night." + +"Then we'll have to keep hunting past Bontoc right into Banaue." + +Angel tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed ahead. "There is Bontoc." + +Nestled in the mountains on the bank of a river was the town of Bontoc, +a small cluster of wooden and grass houses. Rick saw that the dirt road +had changed to a black top. + +"I'm going to look for a place to land." + +Scotty nodded. "Good idea." + +Rick waited until the town was directly below, then he sized up the +terrain and began to lose altitude in a tight spiral. It was in +situations like this that the Sky Wagon's flaps came in handy. He pulled +the control down and the movable sections on the trailing edges of the +wings moved down in response. He began to lose speed. + +When he was five hundred feet over the town he flew parallel with the +road, searching for wires and other hazards. There were wires, but they +entered the town from the south, then branched west, toward Banaue. To +the north there were no wires, nor any other hazards he could see. And +the road looked level. He picked a stretch at the edge of the little +town where the houses were far apart. They were primitive little +dwellings made of straw tied together in bundles. He hoped his prop wash +wouldn't blow them apart. + +"Hang on," he said. "Here we go." + +The movement of rice stalks in a paddy near the road gave him wind +direction. He should land from the north. He circled, got into position, +and started in. Scotty leaned forward, eyes peeled for obstructions. + +There was excitement in the town below. People in Western clothes and in +scant breechcloths or tight skirts of Igorots were running into the open +to see what was making the racket. Rick hurried the landing a little, +afraid the people would clutter up the strip of road he had chosen. He +put the Sky Wagon down with no sign of a bump and braked to a stop. +Then, because children were getting near, outstripping their elders in +haste to see the plane, Rick cut the engine. + +Two Igorot boys, perhaps fourteen years old, were the first to reach the +plane as the three climbed out. The Igorots had the chopped-off bowl +haircut, and they wore breechcloths and nothing else. They stared at the +plane, wide-eyed, then one said something to his friend in guttural +Igorot. + +Angel Manotok grinned. Rick asked, "Did you understand?" + +"Yes. I speak Igorot." + +Scotty said, "They probably were talking about the great sky bird. That +right, Angel?" + +Angel's grin broadened. "Not exactly. The English equivalent would be +slang. What he said corresponded to 'Hey, bud, get a load of the real +snazzy four-place job. And dig that retractable landing gear!'" + +The boy who had spoken looked at Angel with suspicion. "You no Igorot," +he accused. + +Angel chuckled. "You no Englishman, but you speak English." + +The boy laughed. "Okay, Mac. My name Pilipil. I learn plenty plane stuff +at Clark. Dig holes there for pay. See many plane." + +Rick and Scotty got over their amazement. It was obvious that the boys +were more than fourteen years old. Their short stature and unlined faces +were deceptive. + +"How old are you, Pilipil?" Rick asked. + +"Eighteen." + +Rick wanted to know more about the boy who had worked as a laborer at +the American Air Force Base at Clark Field, but there was no time +because the rest of the crowd had arrived. The boys found themselves +surrounded by Filipinos and Igorots, all chattering with obvious +excitement and interest. + +A Filipino who was obviously someone of importance pushed his way +through the crowd. He was dressed in a business suit, complete with +starched shirt and tie, an odd rig for such a primitive village as +Bontoc, Rick thought. The man was smoking a cigar with one hand and +carrying a cane with the other. He hung the cane over the wrist on the +cigar hand and held out the other. + +"I am the district road commission. Leocadio de los Santos, at your +service. Mr. Lazada informed me by letter that I was to place my entire +resources at your disposal. You are Mr. Brant, Mr. Scott, and Dr. +Briotti?" + +"Dr. Briotti is not with us," Rick replied. "This is Mr. Manotok." + +"Ah. Delighted. Please come to my office so we may talk quietly." + +Rick looked doubtful. "We shouldn't leave the plane." + +"Do not fear. It will be perfectly safe." + +Santos switched to the native language, speaking briefly and with +authority. The crowd obediently fell back a few paces, leaving a cleared +area around the plane. The road commissioner had the situation under +control, all right. + +Nevertheless, Angel Manotok said, "I will wait here." + +Rick nodded. That was best. He and Scotty followed Santos to the office, +a few hundred feet down the street. The office was on the second floor +of a frame building. The first floor was a work area filled with tools, +including a bulldozer and a road scraper. + +Before discussing business, Santos insisted on refreshment. He clapped +his hands and a dungaree-clad Filipino workman appeared. Santos spoke. +In a few moments the workman reappeared. Both boys were surprised when +he offered them their favorite American beverage. It seemed strange to +be sipping coke in a place inhabited by primitive people clad in +breechcloths, some of them armed with short spears. + +Rick got down to business. "Can you find out if a truck and a green +sedan have passed through Bontoc?" + +"What kind of truck, please?" + +Rick described it. "We don't have the make of the sedan. It may have had +five men in it." He couldn't believe that the sedan had reached Bontoc, +however. + +Santos picked up his phone, reached down, and whirled a crank. The phone +rang. He spoke Ilokano into it, then received a reply from the other +end. He spoke again, then hung up. "That was the gateman at the edge of +town. No truck and no sedan passed through here today." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Ifugao Country + + +There was only one difficulty, but it was a major one. Rick didn't know +whether or not the district road commissioner could be believed. Santos +was Lazada's man. + +The boys finished their cokes before Rick decided on a course of action. +If Santos was lying, they would find out soon enough. So, for the +present, they would assume that he was telling the truth, and that he +could be trusted. + +"Is the province peaceful up this way?" Rick asked. + +"Oh, yes." Santos replied. "It is usually very peaceful. Sometimes on +the road south there is a holdup, but the Igorots in Bontoc and the +Ifugaos at Banaue cause no trouble." + +"Glad to hear it," Scotty said. "When we start digging, some of the +Ifugaos may get upset. I'm glad to hear that they're not often riled +up." + +"What are your plans?" Santos asked. + +Rick shrugged. "It is hard to know where to begin. Before we plan our +campaign to locate the place where we dig, we must survey the terraces. +Is there any sort of field where I could land at Banaue?" + +"No," Santos replied with great positiveness. "Once you see the terraces +you will see for yourself that there is no place." + +Rick stood up and Scotty followed suit. "I think perhaps we had better +fly over to Banaue and see the terraces. Then we will have a better +understanding of our problems. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. De +los Santos." + +"It is nothing. But tell me. Isn't there another in your party? Another +American?" + +"Yes. How did you know?" + +"Oh, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior phoned personally. He +described all of you, and said to do everything possible to make your +visit interesting and successful." + +"That was very good of him," Rick said. "We will be back again, perhaps +tomorrow. Will you be here?" + +"I believe so. If I am not, it will be because I am inspecting a road +section. Never am I gone long." + +Santos lingered to give instructions in the native language to one of +his men, and Rick took advantage of the few seconds to whisper to +Scotty: + +"I'll stall him. Get back to the plane. Have Angel make a deal with +those Igorot boys to keep an eye on the road. I want another spy in +Bontoc besides someone we know is Lazada's man. You know what's needed." + +Scotty did. He hurried off to do what was necessary. Rick waited for +Santos, then asked the commissioner to point out the road to Banaue. "I +plan to follow the road in my plane. Do you think that is all right?" + +Santos did. "You may lose the road in the clouds as you cross the top of +the mountain range that divides the Igorot tribe from the Ifugaos, but +you should then be able to see Banaue. Will you come back here after you +have seen the terraces?" + +"Not today. We probably will be back tomorrow in a jeep. The plane is +handy, but we can't land at Banaue, you say." + +"You will see. And I will see you tomorrow. Then you can tell me how the +terraces look from the air." + +"Better still," Rick promised. "Next time I have the plane here, I'll +take you to see for yourself." + +Scotty winked as Santos and Rick approached the plane, and Rick knew +that Scotty and Angel had been able to make a deal with Pilipil, the +Igorot boy, and his friend. The party shook hands with Santos, then +climbed into the plane. The crowd of natives moved away from the road as +Rick started the engine, then turned the plane and taxied down the road +to the take-off point he had selected. He was a little nervous, for fear +a child might dart into the road while he was picking up flying speed, +but the crowd was well-disciplined and held steady as the Sky Wagon +roared past and climbed. + +"We now have Pilipil and his pal working for us," Scotty said when they +were air-borne. + +"They're smart boys," Angel added. "They'll be able to report on every +car and every person passing through Bontoc from now until we get back." + +Rick nodded. "Good. But I'm still worried. We've done everything we +could think of, but there's no pay-off. We still haven't found Tony. We +were sure whoever kidnaped him would head for the Ifugao country, but +there were no sedans on the road today. How do we know Tony isn't hidden +somewhere near Baguio? How do we know he's still alive?" + +Scotty put a hand on his shoulder. "Why wouldn't he be alive? Who would +gain anything by his death? We have to remember that the gimmick in this +whole business is a golden skull. Nast wants it, Nangolat wants it, +Lazada wants it, and we want it. No one has it." + +Rick gained altitude steadily, keeping an eye on the twisting road +below. "All right. I'll go along with your reasoning. Whoever wants the +golden skull has to go to Banaue to find it. It can't be found--unless +by a lucky accident--without the earth scanner. And who has the +scanner?" + +"Nangolat." + +"Can he use it?" + +"No." + +Rick shrugged. "Tony can use the scanner, though. We suspect that Nast +has Tony. The question is what is the relationship between Nangolat and +Nast?" + +Below the Sky Wagon the high green mountains marched in a series of +ridges from horizon to horizon. This was the divide between Igorot and +Ifugao country. Rick let the conversation lag as he searched below and +ahead for a landmark. There was a little cloud cover around him, as +Santos had predicted. + +Then the cloud was past and the three looked down into the great valley +of Banaue. + +Rick and Scotty gasped. It was incredible! As far as they could see, the +mountains on either side of the valley were sculptured into irregular +green steps, or terraces. The smallest terrace was perhaps only a few +feet square, while the larger ones were the size of a football field. +They rose in an irregular triangle right to the base of the clouds. +There was no particular pattern. The Ifugao farmers had simply used +every possible inch of space to make terraces for the growing of rice. +In some places the step from one terrace to the next was only a foot or +two. In other places the step up to the terrace above was forty feet. + +The retaining walls of the terraces were native stone, irregular pieces +laid together by expert Ifugao masons without benefit of mortar or +concrete. The same method had been used to make the great wall of China. + +Rick found his voice. "I've seen pictures, but they didn't tell even +part of the story. This is fantastic!" + +"It's the most wonderful job of engineering I've ever seen," Scotty +agreed. "And when you think that the engineers are primitive people, +with only hand tools, that makes it even more wonderful." + +Angel Manotok had seen the terraces before, he said, but added, "I'm +glad to see them from the air. You can understand now why Santos said +there was no place to land." + +Rick certainly could understand. The only level places in the entire +valley were the flat surfaces of the terraces, and no terrace was large +enough to land on. In fact, most terraces were too small even for a +carabao, the native water buffalo, to drag a plow across them. The +Ifugao rice planters had to farm their terraces by hand. + +There was no use looking for a landing place in the immediate vicinity +of Banaue. + +"We'd better take a swing down the valley, just to get a good look, then +head back for Baguio," Rick said. + +"Good idea," Scotty agreed. "We need to lay some plans and then get +busy. Can you fly fairly low?" + +"Yes. There's room enough in the valley to make turns, so we won't get +trapped. Let's go down and look." + +The town of Banaue was easy to find. A double row of stores was situated +on a single unpaved street atop a slight plateau in the valley bottom. +The Sky Wagon sped over it, bringing the storekeepers and their few +customers running out to look. + +"The Ifugaos live in villages around the valley," Angel said. He pointed +to one or two of them, clinging to the mountainside between terraces. +The huts were of straw bundles, discolored by smoke and dust. "The +stores have kerosene, thread, matches, tobacco, salt, oil, perhaps a +little cloth. The Ifugaos do not need much--or, if they need it, they do +not know that they do." + +Rick thought that one over as he climbed out of the valley and set a +compass course south to Baguio. The course would intersect the Bontoc +Road, which he would then follow into town. + +"What's our next step?" he asked. + +"We've got to find Tony, of course. I have a hunch that we weren't +thorough enough in looking over the Bontoc Road. Nangolat _had_ to be on +it. Where else could he go? Or where else _would_ he go?" + +"That lumber could have been camouflage," Angel offered. + +Rick's first reaction was to ask what lumber, then he remembered that an +Army truck like theirs, but loaded with lumber, had been on the Bontoc +Road. + +"Of course! Who would suspect a load of lumber, especially since this is +lumber country?" + +Scotty nodded. "It's possible. Tomorrow we'll go back to Bontoc, and if +Nangolat was driving that lumber truck, Pilipil and company will know +it. Tonight we'll cover Baguio again to make sure our enemies aren't +still around. Perhaps we can find Chahda." + +"If we haven't found Dr. Briotti by tomorrow night," Angel said, "we +should go to the police." + +"There's someone else we'll visit first," Rick said grimly. "And that's +Mr. Irineo Lazada!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Ambush + + +The hotel had received no word of Tony Briotti. Rick and Scotty hadn't +really expected any word. They were certain that he had been kidnaped by +Nast. Even the reason for the kidnaping was no longer important. What +was important was to rescue Tony. + +Angel Manotok left before the boys were ready for dinner. He hoped to +pick up some information at various places he knew around town. Perhaps +gossip which might be useful. Perhaps someone had seen something unusual +which could have a bearing on the young archaeologist's disappearance. +Angel promised to report back later. He would spend the night in Tony's +room. + +Rick and Scotty decided to have dinner, and then talk with some of the +local Americans about the best place to buy a jeep. If possible, they +wanted to pick one up after dinner, get it ready to travel, and have it +standing by the next morning early. + +They did not talk much at dinner. They were more worried about Tony than +either of them would admit, and Rick was feeling a little ill at ease +because they hadn't notified the police. He had talked it over with +Angel, but the Filipino guide had said, "We'll have to notify them +sooner or later, but it will do no good." + +"Perhaps we should notify the American ambassador at Manila," Rick said +aloud. + +"We should have notified him long before this," Scotty agreed. "But we +always try to do everything ourselves. I guess we'll never learn." + +Angel Manotok appeared in the dining room, eyes searching for the boys. +Rick saw him and waved. Angel came over and slid into a seat. Apparently +he had seen a doctor, because the bandage around his head was a new one. + +"Friend of yours coming this way," he said. "Probably will have dinner +here. Lazada." + +Scotty's lips tightened. "I'll be glad to see him," he assured Angel. "I +want to ask him about his pal Nast." + +Rick's eyes opened wide. "No need," he said. "Look at the door." + +There, just entering were Lazada and Nast, arm in arm! + +The boys waited until they were seated, then walked over to join them. + +"Good evening," Rick said. "I hope you gentlemen are well." + +Lazada and Nast smiled. The Assistant Secretary nodded. "Both quite +well, thank you. And how are you?" + +"Oh, I'm fine," Rick said. "But my friend is giving me a little +trouble." He pulled a chair out from Lazada's table and sat down. Scotty +followed suit. Rick was close to Lazada, while Scotty's chair was nearer +to Nast. + +"Your friend is giving you trouble?" Lazada asked. "Which friend?" + +"This one," Rick said, motioning to Scotty. "He wants to kill Mr. Nast. +I don't think we should kill Mr. Nast, do you?" + +Lazada smiled. "Ask him." + +Rick turned to Nast. "Do you have an opinion, Mr. Nast?" + +Nast was a little pale, but his voice was steady enough. "I certainly +do. I agree with you, Mr. Brant." + +Rick grinned mirthlessly. "You do? I'm glad. Instead of killing you, I +suggested to Scotty that we cripple you. Perhaps a few compound +fractures of the arms and legs." + +Rick could see that neither Lazada nor Nast were as composed as they +seemed. The calm, unearthly discussion was too bizarre. Threats were +something they understood, but not threats like this. + +Scotty spoke for the first time. He addressed Nast. "Because you're a +fellow American I thought the decent thing to do would be just to kill +you outright." + +Nast shuddered visibly. "You're both joking, of course. But it isn't a +very funny joke, I assure you." + +Rick smiled. "No, it isn't very funny. But neither is Dr. Briotti's +disappearance. You'd better tell us where he is." + +"What makes you think Mr. Nast knows?" Lazada asked. + +Rick considered. They had no proof. No one had seen Nast in the sedan +that had taken Tony from the airport. The boys saw movement at the +entrance to the dining room and realized that two Filipinos were +watching them like hawks, and that the hands in their pockets certainly +held pistols. + +Rick shifted tactics. "Do you have much faith in your bodyguards?" + +Lazada raised his eyebrows. "Faith? Of course. They are loyal to me. If +anyone tries to get close to me without my permission, they step in and +remove that person. Or, if anyone should try violence...." + +Rick smiled. "How good do you think they would be against a sniper with +a rifle five hundred yards away?" + +"Obviously, they would be ineffective." + +"Just the point I wanted to make," Rick agreed. "You realize, of course, +that there is no protection against assassination, except to take refuge +in a fortress of some kind and stay there. That's impossible for a +public figure like yourself." + +"True. Your point, then, is what?" + +"That Dr. Briotti has friends with rifles. It would distress us to find +that he had been harmed." + +"It would distress me," Lazada assured them. "I was very much impressed +by Dr. Briotti's knowledge and enthusiasm. I assume that you think I +have some knowledge about his disappearance. I do not." + +"Me either," Nast added hastily. + +Lazada's round face glistened with perspiration. "I will control my +anger, Mr. Brant. I take your age into account. Allow me to remind you, +however, that I am an official of the Philippine Government and that you +are an alien. You are here on sufferance, and you have only such rights +as you can persuade us to give you. Oh, I know there are agreements. But +let us be realistic. Do not force me to lose my temper and do something +for which I would be sorry." + +"All right." Rick rose. "I'm not as enthusiastic about this expedition +as I used to be, but we're going through with it, anyway, starting +tomorrow. The sooner we finish, the better for everybody." He looked at +Nast. "Except you. I can only promise you that your pal Lazada will +never be able to give you the golden skull to smuggle into China." + +The boys walked back to their own table and left Nast and Lazada staring +after them. That would give them something to chew over, Rick thought. + +"I'm not sure that we were smart," Scotty said when they were seated +once more. "I'm sure Nast had something to do with Tony's disappearance, +but I can't tell you why I'm sure. Was it wise to throw it up to them?" + +Rick shrugged. "Maybe not. But it's done now." + +The boys slept with locked windows and doors, but they slept soundly. +Down the hall, Angel also regained strength and optimism while he slept, +so that the three awoke the next morning with a determination to make +some real progress. They had followed their plans and obtained a jeep +the night before. But they would need blankets and warmer clothing, +unless their supplies could be recovered. + +Over breakfast, Scotty estimated their chances. "Suppose we find out +that the truck is somewhere in the Ifugao country. Would that guarantee +our getting it back? No, it would not. So, we'd better write off the +stuff in the truck as lost." + +Fortunately, stores open early in Baguio, and the boys were able to buy +the things they needed. Scotty also bought an extra five-gallon gasoline +can for the jeep. Then Angel and Scotty loaded their few belongings into +the vehicle, shook Rick's hand, and headed for Bontoc. + +They had agreed that it might be convenient to have the Sky Wagon at +Bontoc, too, so Rick would fly up later, planning to arrive at about the +same time. Now, he sat down in the hotel lobby and penned a note to the +American ambassador, describing the events of yesterday and telling of +their future plans. He gave the note to the desk clerk, with +instructions that it was not to be sent for three days. + +Rick figured that at the end of that time he would either reclaim the +note, or that all of them would be in need of help, and the American +ambassador would get the letter and use it as a reason for sending a +strong note to the Philippine Government, or maybe call out the Marines, +the Navy, and the Air Force. Rick was a little vague on just what would +happen. + +The note written, he tried to read for a while. Scotty and Angel were +not well started, and it would be pointless for him to go on to Bontoc +alone. He wondered where Chahda was, and what he was doing. The Hindu +boy had his own way of operating, and it was one Rick and Scotty could +not hope to copy. Chahda had the gift of mimicry. He could fade into a +new background as though he belonged to it. + +Rick hoped that Chahda, somehow, was keeping a protective eye on Tony. + +He couldn't read. He tried napping, but that was no good, either. At +last, unable to remain idle a moment longer, he took a taxi to the +airport, topped off the Sky Wagon's tanks with gas, checked the plane +thoroughly, got a weather report and took off. + +He climbed to fifteen thousand feet and scanned the terrain for +landmarks. He spotted Mount Panay to the west, verifying its name on the +map. Then he picked up the Bontoc Road and searched for the highest +point, where it emerged from the valleys and swung across a peak over +seven thousand feet above sea level. + +If he had estimated Scotty's travel time correctly, the jeep should just +now be emerging into the brilliant sunlight of the peaks. He wished for +binoculars, but they had failed to bring any, one of those oversights +that happen on any expedition. + +There was a little traffic on the road. A car of some kind was at the +peak, probably stopped to allow the occupants to see the magnificent +view. Then he saw that the car was being driven off the road into a +grove of trees just beyond the peak. That was odd. + +He identified the jeep. In a moment or two it would be at the peak. He +would go down and wave. Then he would go back to the airport, have +lunch, and fly on to Bontoc. That way, he would get there only slightly +ahead of Scotty and Angel. + +He lost altitude. Below, men were getting out of the car which had +driven into the scant cover of a scrub-pine grove. Rick watched as they +walked to the peak. Sunlight reflected from metal. Probably lunch boxes, +he thought. The men were going to have their picnic lunch while looking +over the wonderful mountains of northern Luzon. Good idea. Probably that +was why they had parked the car off the road. + +Then he saw that they were not stopping at the peak, but were taking +positions along the road a short distance beyond it. Again, sunlight +glinted from metal as one of them sat down in a copse just off the road. + +Sweat suddenly poured on Rick's forehead. He wasn't watching simple +picnickers! He was watching an ambush being set up--and it could only be +for one vehicle, because there was only one in sight along the miles of +twisting highway. + +Scotty and Angel! + +Rick spun the Sky Wagon up on a wing and let it slide. He held the slide +for long moments while the altimeter ticked off the lost altitude. Not +until it registered eight thousand feet did he level off, only a +thousand feet above the mountaintops. For a moment he couldn't see +Scotty and Angel, then he saw them climbing toward the peak at a good +speed. In about twenty seconds they would reach it. + +He gauged the amount of clearance he had. It wasn't much. Then he put +the stick forward and dove for the road. He leveled off so low that his +prop wash kicked up dust. The jeep seemed to rush at him and he had a +glimpse of Scotty's surprised face, then he was roaring up in a climb +that flattened him against the seat. He leveled off and looked for the +jeep. It was still moving ahead. + +Rick groaned. Scotty thought he was just playing! He should have written +a note and dropped it, but now there was no time. The jeep would be in +the ambush before he could let his friends know why he had buzzed them. + +He was helpless. There wasn't anything in the Sky Wagon that he could +throw at the enemy. But he could at least try to make them keep their +heads down. He roared in for the attack, aiming at the places where the +attackers waited. + +The ambushers had the advantage. All they had to do was sit still. Rick +could not hurt them without cracking up the plane and actually landing +on them. Still, it was terrifying to have the plane roar past scarcely +two feet above one's head, and Rick knew the attackers would be worried +about the possibility of an accident. + +One man had weak nerves. On Rick's second pass he stood up and ran, +heading for the comforting shelter of the trees. Scotty saw him. The +jeep braked to a halt. + +Instantly the ambushers opened fire. Scotty and Angel jumped from the +exposed jeep and took to the ditch. Rick dove at the riflemen again and +saw them shoot at him. + +He gained a little altitude and circled, estimating the situation. There +were four attackers, counting the one who had run for the car. That left +three effective ones. Scotty and Angel were unarmed, a grave mistake. +They should have purchased weapons. However, since he had been able to +warn them, the attack had failed. They were in good cover, and as long +as he was overhead, ready to dive on the attackers if they should try +for a better position, the two were all right. + +Rick thought he saw a way out. At least there was no harm in trying. He +took the pad of paper he kept in the door pocket and printed a message +to the attackers. + + YOU HAVE LOST. NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU GO, I CAN FOLLOW. I CAN HAVE + THE POLICE TRAP YOU AT BONTOC OR BAGUIO. I CAN CARRY POLICE TO + BONTOC FASTER THAN YOU CAN DRIVE THERE. BUT IF YOU LEAVE YOUR + RIFLES IN THE ROAD, GO TO YOUR CAR, AND HEAD FOR BAGUIO, I WILL DO + NOTHING. + +He searched for a weight and found his emergency fishing kit, a war +surplus item which he carried in case he might someday find himself at a +good fishing spot without tackle. From the kit he extracted a heavy +sinker. A piece of fishing line completed the rig. He lashed the sinker +to the folded paper. Now to toss it out so it would land among the +attackers. He swung low over the road, gauging his distance. When he saw +the peak rushing at him he released the weighted paper, climbed swiftly, +and saw one of the attackers run to get it. + +Apparently it made sense to the three men. They talked among themselves +for a moment, then carried their rifles to the middle of the road and +went to the car. Scotty and Angel realized that something was going on, +but prudently remained under cover. Not until the ambushers' car roared +past on the way to Baguio did they emerge and wave at Rick. He waggled +his wings, then turned and made a beeline for the city. He wanted guns +and ammunition, and there was no time like the present to buy them! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Warriors Three + + +Rick got guns, but it took time. There were no sporting goods stores in +Baguio. In fact, there were no stores that carried rifles. A few carried +pistols, mostly Italian and English makes. But Rick knew that a pistol +is better for morale than for actual use. Few people can hit anything +with a pistol, and fewer still can hit a moving target. + +He supposed that Scotty and Angel had picked up the rifles of the +ambushers, but since he didn't know the calibers, he couldn't get +ammunition for them. What he finally procured were a shotgun, 12-gauge +with an ample supply of shells, and a United States Army carbine, with +about ten clips. These were private purchases from a store owner who was +willing to sell his personal arsenal. + +It was late when Rick got started for Bontoc. He watched for Scotty and +Angel on the road but failed to catch up with them. They had reached +Bontoc before him, as he found when he circled to land. They cleared the +road and stood by while he brought the Sky Wagon down. + +Angel had already hired two Igorots to guard the plane. They were +tough-looking customers who wore hard-rock miner's helmets, a sign that +they had mined gold in Baguio. + +The Sky Wagon was pulled off the road into a field and the Igorots sat +down next to it, short spears handy to their reach. The plane would be +all right. Rick got into the jeep with Scotty and Angel, and the first +thing he saw was their collection of armaments. They had four rifles, +two of them old Army Springfield rifles, and two carbines. + +"We are now well armed," he said. "Where's the enemy?" + +"After that ambush," Scotty replied, starting the motor, "I'm no longer +sure. We certainly didn't expect that." + +"I think we brought it on ourselves," Rick said. "Last night we gave +Lazada and Nast a hard time. I'll bet Lazada sent out that expedition +just for laughs." A thought struck him. "By the way, where are the two +Igorot boys you hired yesterday? How come they aren't guarding the +plane?" + +"We thought we'd take them with us, as extra hands," Scotty explained. +"They live at the southern edge of town. We're going there now. We've +already talked with Pilipil. He's getting a third boy for us to hire." + +"Hey, take it easy," Rick complained. "Explain as you go. What did +Pilipil say, and why the third boy?" + +"Our truck has gone over the mountain into Ifugao country. It was the +lumber truck, as we might have known. Nangolat was driving, and Tony and +a third man were with them. That was yesterday. We didn't tell Pilipil +and his friend to follow the truck, so they didn't. But a third Igorot +boy did follow, and he returned to Bontoc this morning. He's with +Pilipil now. We'll go pick them up and head for Banaue. And we'll get +Tony." + +Rick was still a little confused, but he guessed Scotty knew what he was +talking about. "Who is the Igorot who trailed our truck?" + +"Don't know. He was sleeping at Pilipil's when we got here." + +Ahead, Pilipil was standing in front of a board shack, waving. It was +evidently his home. The jeep pulled up and Rick, Scotty, and Angel got +out. Pilipil shook hands all around. "You come in," he said. "We talk. +Make plan." + +He led the way into the shack. Within, two other young Igorots were +seated cross-legged on the floor. One of them was Pilipil's friend, +Balaban, who had been with him on the day they first landed. + +The third Igorot--as might have been expected--was Chahda. + +Scotty pointed to the Hindu boy, who was watching them with an impassive +stare, as though he had never seen them before. + +"Pilipil, how do you know this boy good? Can be trusted?" + +Pilipil shrugged and showed betel-stained teeth in a smile. "Not know. +Maybe no good. But say he know you." + +Scotty looked stern. "You. What have you to say for yourself?" + +"Plenty," Chahda said. "Am plenty tired of pulling Spindrift chestnuts +out of fire. You know how cold it gets in these mountain? Last night I +freeze. I almost attack whole Ifugao village barehanded, just to get +blankets from supplies on truck. Tonight you take off clothes, put on +breechcloth, and stand out in cold. I stay in nice warm hotel, in +Baguio. Worrold Alm-in-ack say this tropical country. Hah! Like North +Pole is tropical." + +Rick and Scotty grinned sympathetically. "If you weren't so in love with +being mysterious and adventurous," Rick pointed out, "you could sleep in +comfortable beds in warm rooms. But no. You have to be Chahda the +Vanishing Hindu. And a good thing, too, otherwise Scotty and I would be +floundering most of the time, not knowing where to turn next. Is Tony +okay?" + +Chahda rose. He looked astonishingly like Pilipil and Balaban. From +haircut to bare feet he was an Igorot. Only his brown eyes, +proportionally bigger than those of the real Igorots, were different. + +"Tony is okay. Or was last night. My pal Dog Meat is keeping eye on him. +You see Nast?" + +"In Baguio, last night." Scotty told Chahda of their visit with Nast and +Lazada. + +Chahda nodded. "Nast and Nangolat in cahoots. Nast picks up Tony at +airport, takes him to hut near Trinidad Valley. I see all this. At hut +is Nangolat, with truck of lumber. Nast turns Tony over to Nangolat, so +I drop Nast and follow Tony. Me and Dog Meat, we have fine time. You fly +overhead, too, but see nothing. Not even me. You getting blind, I think. +Lose famous Brant eyesight." + +"We saw the lumber truck," Rick admitted. "But where were you?" + +"Little way behind in jeep." + +Rick remembered that they had seen a couple of jeeps on the road but had +paid no attention. He could see now what had probably happened. +Nangolat, after stealing the earth scanner, had taken the truck to the +hut at Trinidad Valley and camouflaged it with lumber. Tony had gone to +the airport, but had not found Nangolat--he had found Nast. But why? +Rick put the question aloud. + +"Mix up in schedule," Chahda said. "Nast and Nangolat were to meet at +airport and wait for all of you. Catch whole lot at once when you go to +airport in the morning. But Nangolat has luck, and he gets earth +scanner. He takes truck to Trinidad, so you won't find it and get +scanner back. Nast comes to airport in morning, and finds no Nangolat, +but he finds Tony. So he takes Tony and goes to Trinidad Valley to hut +which he knows about, and there is Nangolat." + +"How do you know all this?" Scotty demanded. + +Chahda grinned. "From Nast. He reports to Lazada by telephone. I listen. +Easy. Who would think poor Igorot boy know anything?" + +Rick shook his head in admiration. Leave it to Chahda. "Now what, Master +Spy?" + +Chahda motioned to Pilipil and Balaban. "We three mighty Igorot +warriors. Tonight we lead you to Ifugao, and we get Tony and the truck +and our other stuffs. Then we get to work and find this golden skull." + +"You mean we just walk in and take Tony away from the Ifugaos?" Scotty +demanded. + +"Not that simple," Chahda said. "Ifugaos not wanting to give Tony up, I +think. First he help them find sacred stuff lost for many generations, +then they need new head to sacrifice to sacred stuff, so they use his. +Neat, huh? I think we don't get Tony back without a fight." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Ifugao Village + + +The terraced mountain wall fell away below to the valley floor. Halfway +between Rick and the dark sheen of the river was a level area which +Chahda said was the village. However, it was too dark to see very much. + +"We'll break our necks if we try to climb around among these terraces," +Scotty whispered. + +Chahda admitted, "Good possibility. But what else is there? Later moon +will be up a little. We not go down yet. Study lay of land." + +They had left their jeeps on the roadway that passed above the village. +So far as they knew, no one had seen them approach. Now, perhaps a +hundred feet above the cluster of huts, they sat at the edge of a +terrace and waited for the moon to rise. + +Rick studied the landscape below. His feet dangled over thirty feet of +vertical wall. He would have to make his way down that wall to the next +terrace, and then down the next and the next until he emerged at the +village level. He would be very much like an ant climbing down the three +stone steps at home, except that he wasn't as sure-footed as an ant on +vertical surfaces. + +Then, once the bottom was reached, they had to find Tony, free him, and +take him up the terraces to the jeeps. Rick shook his head. They +probably would have to fight every inch of the way, and there was no +assurance that they would make it. + +In the village below, someone was adding wood to a small open fire in +the central area that served as a village common. Rick could make out +several figures. Scotty moved closer to him. "We need a way to cover our +retreat. Any ideas?" + +"No good ones. We could station a couple of the gang to heave rocks +down." + +"That's probably as good as anything." + +A shadowy figure approached, climbing down the terraces from above. +Chahda whispered, "Dog Meat come. I go see what he finds out." + +Below, the fire was burning more brightly, and Rick could see several +persons bringing wood. Apparently there was to be a large bonfire. He +groaned softly. That meant light to make their task harder. + +Chahda consulted with his friend for a few moments, then rejoined Rick +and Scotty. Angel, Pilipil, and Balaban were grouped at the rear of the +terrace, waiting for instructions. + +"Dog Meat know which hut Tony is in. Has two guards. Nangolat gone +somewhere." + +"Why are they building up the fire?" Rick asked. + +"Not know. I think better we move. We climb down. Dog Meat will take us +to Tony. We cut him loose and fight our way back." + +Suddenly they stiffened as a rhythmic metallic clanging sound floated up +to them. + +Angel Manotok moved to their side. "Ifugao music," he whispered. "I've +heard it before. The instruments are _tinaklings_, like pans, suspended +from human jawbones. They're getting ready for some kind of ceremony +down there." + +"Then we'll wait," Scotty said. "If they get started on some kind of +ceremony, we may have a chance to move in quietly." + +"That makes sense," Rick agreed, and Chahda nodded. + +They crouched on the edge of the terrace and watched as the fire below +grew into a roaring blaze. Men and women could be seen clearly now. The +musicians--if the clanging could be called music--were next to the fire. +Then, the people fell back, and six men and six women took their places +in two lines and began to dance. It was a stiff, formal sort of dance +with little body movement. Hands and arms made gestures which Rick could +not interpret, while the feet shuffled slowly in the dust. + +Scotty touched his shoulder. "Let's go. Chahda, you, Rick, Dog Meat, and +I will go. Angel, Pilipil, and Balaban will stay here to cover our +retreat. Angel, you can use a rifle. Have Pilipil and Balaban pry loose +some big rocks. Use your own judgment. We don't want a war, but we don't +want to lose our heads, either." + +"How about our truck?" Rick asked. + +Chahda replied. "It is not here. Nangolat took it. We get Tony, then we +take the road Nangolat took. Dog Meat knows." + +The fire was bright enough so Rick could see Dog Meat for the first +time. The little Igorot was an older edition of Pilipil. He wore only a +breechcloth and the little pillbox hat in which he kept his matches and +tobacco. His face was wrinkled and gnomelike. + +"Lead on," Rick said. + +Dog Meat went to the edge of the terrace and slipped over. He climbed +down with incredible swiftness. Then Chahda followed. Rick made sure his +carbine was slung tightly across his back, then followed. His feet +groped for toe holds in the rough stone wall of the terrace and found +them without too much difficulty, but his descent was slower than Dog +Meat or Chahda's. He was painfully conscious that he was an excellent +target. Below, chanting voices joined the rhythmic clanging. The sound +of their descent would not be heard. + +Rick reached the bottom of the terrace and found Chahda and Dog Meat +waiting. There were two more terraces to descend before the village +level was reached. In a moment Scotty joined them. Dog Meat led the way +once more. The party made its way down the face of the terrace and +emerged on a level only thirty feet above the village floor. + +Rick was astonished that the villagers had not seen them. He felt very +much exposed to view, even though he realized that the shadows were deep +and that the villagers were not watching the terraces. + +Dog Meat led the way to the extreme end of the next terrace, choosing a +place where the huts would be between the climbers and the fire. Then he +vanished over the edge of the terrace and Chahda followed. Rick picked +his way carefully. There were gaps between the stones, but sometimes he +had to feel with his feet until he found an opening big enough to +accommodate the toe of his shoe. Dog Meat and Chahda had the advantage, +because bare feet could find holds much more swiftly. + +He reached ground level behind a straw hut. Dog Meat and Chahda were +waiting. Chahda had unslung his rifle, and Dog Meat was holding a +razor-edged bolo. Then Scotty was down, too, and they made a close file +behind Dog Meat as he showed them the way to the hut where Tony was +being held. + +The music and voices were loud, now, and the fire made yellow patterns +where they crossed open spaces. Then Dog Meat came to a halt behind a +straw hut and gestured that this was the one. + +Chahda took the bolo from him and made a slit in the straw of the hut. +Then he peered through the opening he had made. Rick and Scotty pushed +close and took turns looking. + +Tony was tied to a post in the center of the hut. The hut door opened +onto the village common, and the only light was that of the fire. +Blocking the light were two figures, Ifugao guards, clad only in +breechcloths. Both held spears. Unlike the Igorot spears, the Ifugao +weapons were tall with flared points. + +Chahda sliced through the straw of the hut with the bolo, parted it, and +stepped through. Rick was close on his heels, rifle unslung and ready +for use. He felt Scotty crowding him. + +The Hindu boy ran to Tony, knelt, and cut his bonds. Rick lifted his +rifle and reached the front of the hut in three long strides. The barrel +of his weapon descended on the head of the nearest Ifugao. Rick caught +the man as he fell. + +The second Ifugao turned, mouth open to yell, and stepped right into a +vicious butt stroke from Scotty's rifle. Chahda was already ushering +Tony through the opening at the rear of the hut. The boys pushed through +and followed at a trot as Dog Meat guided them back the way they had +come. The music was still loud. No one had seen the guards go down. + +The party reached the first terrace and stopped while Tony massaged his +hands. The rope had cut off the circulation. Finally he motioned that he +was ready. He could climb, but slowly. At a whispered word from Chahda, +Rick and Scotty went up the terrace wall and took stations with ready +rifles, in case they should be spotted while Tony was helpless on the +wall. + +Tony reached the top of the first terrace and whispered that he could +move faster now. Chahda and Dog Meat took him to the easiest place to +climb the second wall, while Rick and Scotty waited as a rear guard. + +Tony was halfway up the second terrace when pandemonium broke loose in +the village below. The boys saw the dance break up, saw men rush into +the hut where Tony had been held prisoner and drag out the guards, one +of whom had regained consciousness. The men of the village scattered +into various huts and came out with spears and bolos. + +Rick looked up in time to see Tony's legs disappear over the top of the +terrace wall. He tugged Scotty's arm. "Let's go." + +They swarmed up the wall as fast as their groping hands and feet would +allow, but not before a spear clanged off the stones between them. They +had been spotted! + +Chahda leaned over and grabbed Rick's hand. Rick went up in a hurry, +then both of them pulled Scotty up. Ifugaos were already on the terrace +below! + +Rick realized that the Ifugaos had the advantage. They were used to the +terraces. He also realized that they could be where he now stood before +Tony could get up to where Angel and the Igorots waited. + +He and Scotty unslung their rifles. Chahda joined them, bolo in hand. +Dog Meat would help Tony up. The boys spread out, working by hand +signals. They were a short distance back from the terrace edge, but +close enough to swing at any heads that appeared. + +The first Ifugao pursuer came up the wall near Chahda. The Hindu boy +swung with the flat of his bolo and there was a _thunk_ as he connected. +Then Rick saw a face appear and poked at it with the muzzle of his +rifle. The face vanished and there was a scream as the Ifugao fell. + +Rick winced. It was a long fall, but at least there was soft ground of +the rice paddy at the bottom. + +Another face appeared and Rick swung his rifle barrel, felt it connect, +then answered Angel's yell. "Come on!" + +Scotty triggered off half a dozen shots, then the three boys ran for the +wall and started up. From above, Angel and Tony yelled encouragement. +Angel's rifle blazed away. Pilipil, Tony, and Balaban threw rocks. + +A spear, badly thrown, came sideways through the air and caught Rick +across the legs. He almost lost his footing, but recovered and went up +another step. He didn't dare look down. He knew the Ifugaos were on the +terrace below, but to look down was to lose time. He went up another few +feet, then got stuck unable to find a handhold. + +A hand grabbed him by the ankle! He yelled and kicked. Angel appeared +right over his head and dropped a rock. The rock brushed Rick and found +its target. There was a wild cry and the grip on his ankle was gone. He +moved laterally along the wall until he could move upward again. Angel +and Pilipil caught his arms and pulled him to the top. Chahda arrived at +almost the same moment, then Scotty appeared. + +Rick unslung his rifle. "Let's go! Make a run for it." + +Scotty called, "Angel! Chahda! Go get the jeeps started." + +They had Chahda's jeep as well as their own. Rick caught Tony's arm. +"Are you all right?" + +"Yes. Fine. Where do we go?" + +"Follow Chahda. Scotty and I will bring up the rear." + +Ifugaos poured over the terrace edge and were met by Pilipil and +Balaban. Scotty and Rick joined in, rifles flailing, and in a moment the +terrace was clear again. The temporary victors took to their heels +before the next wave of Ifugaos could arrive. + +Ahead, they heard the jeeps' motors. They would make it all right. + +A spear arched overhead and stuck quivering in the road. Rick snatched +it out of the ground as he passed. Then there was a gasp from Pilipil as +a spear caught him in the thigh. Instantly Scotty knelt, rifle blazing. +Rick and Balaban helped Pilipil while Dog Meat yanked the spear free. +They rushed the wounded Igorot to the waiting jeeps. + +"Let's go," Chahda yelled. "What's the delay?" + +"Lend a hand," Rick called, and willing hands helped lift Pilipil into +Chahda's jeep. Rick tumbled in behind him. + +"All aboard!" Scotty yelled. "Take off!" he fired a last shot at the +oncoming Ifugaos, then jeep wheels spun in the dirt, headlights flashed +on, and they were on their way. + +Not until they had climbed to the safety of the mountain peaks +overlooking Banaue did they pull to a stop. Pilipil's leg was their +first concern. They examined the wound in the glare from the jeep's +headlights. It was ugly, but not crippling, and it was already starting +to clot. Rick bound it with a clean handkerchief. Then, their wounded +taken care of, the boys took time to exchange notes with Tony. + +"I walked right into it," Tony said. "Literally. I walked to the +airport, expecting that I could ride back with Angel. I had a grave +suspicion, of course, that he was Nangolat, but I'm afraid it didn't +occur to me that there was any danger in charging him with it." + +Rick shook his head. "Did you expect him to give up without a struggle?" + +"I'm afraid I did. However, he wasn't there. There was no one on the +field at all, except a couple of workmen on the far side. I went over to +see if the plane was all right, and a sedan arrived. Nast was in it. He +didn't waste words. He just thrust a pistol at me and ordered me in." + +"We have an idea of what happened then," Scotty said. "From Chahda. He +was following Nast." + +"I hoped he was," Tony said. "I was afraid that unless Chahda knew my +whereabouts I probably would be completely cut off from help. Well, time +enough later for the rest of the story. You know I came from Baguio in +our own truck?" + +"We know," Rick said. "Chahda again. Now Chahda is going to lead us to +the truck, and we're going to get our equipment back." + +"Do you know where the truck is?" Scotty asked Chahda. + +"Dog Meat does. Nangolat drove it to a village on the north side of the +valley. Nangolat is there now. Maybe we meet him on the road, maybe at +the village. We make flying raid, okay? Swoop down, take truck, and +leave." + +"Sounds good to me," Scotty said. "We'll use one jeep to attack, with +the other standing by as a flying reserve. Angel, take the reserve jeep +with Pilipil and Balaban. No, I've a better idea. We have too many men. +We need the extra jeep in case of a breakdown, not for the men it will +carry. Pilipil and Balaban should stay here. The rest of us split up +between the two jeeps. When we find the truck, I'll drive it, with +Chahda as guard. That will leave Rick and Tony in one jeep, and Angel +and Dog Meat in the other. Sound all right?" + +It sounded fine. Angel spoke up. "I'd rather be in the first jeep, in +case we meet Nangolat." + +Scotty shook his head. "Not tonight. Your turn will come later, Angel. +The first thing is to get the truck back. Pilipil, will you be all right +here until we get back?" + +"I be fine. You go." + +They loaded into the jeeps while Pilipil and Balaban moved into a clump +of brush and prepared to wait. + +"Don't bother about silence," Scotty said. "We'll just hit and run. If +they hear us coming it won't matter, because they won't be sure what +we're after." + +"How about those Ifugao natives from the village?" Tony asked. "They're +probably swarming over the road like flies." + +"We not go near them," Chahda replied. "The truck is a different way. +Come on, load rifles. We go." + +Rick was driving the lead jeep, Chahda on the seat next to him. Tony and +Dog Meat were in the rear seat. Scotty was with Angel in the other jeep. +The road was reasonably good, although narrow and winding. Rick roared +down into the valley as fast as prudence and Newton's laws of motion +allowed. Had he gone any faster the jeep would have tipped over on some +unexpected corner. + +"Soon we there!" Chahda shouted. + +Rick kept a sharp watch ahead. The yellow cones of light seemed lost in +the vast darkness of Banaue. There were no other lights. + +"Watch for fork in road, go left," Chahda relayed Dog Meat's +instructions. + +The fork appeared. Rick swung left--and almost bashed into the truck. It +was parked with lights out, close to a village. + +Both jeeps slid to a stop. Scotty and Chahda jumped out, rifles ready, +and ran to the truck. "The keys!" Rick yelled. "Are they in it?" + +"Don't need keys!" Scotty yelled back. "Turn around, quick!" + +Angel was already turning his jeep. Rick followed suit, and his +headlights swung in an arc across the Ifugao village and reflected from +spear tips. The natives here had been alerted! + +The truck roared into life. Rick pulled to one side and motioned Scotty +by. Then, as the truck went past, Rick triggered off a half-dozen shots, +aiming high. Tony did the same with the shotgun, sending loads of bird +shot whistling through the red leaves of the dangla bushes. + +A screaming madman leaped at them, spear extended. It was Nangolat, face +distorted with hatred and fury. He thrust at Tony, but the archaeologist +knocked the spear aside. Then, as Nangolat's thrust carried him close, +Tony let loose a roundhouse that caught the Ifugao squarely on the jaw, +whirled him sideways, and dropped him like a log in the dust of the +road. Then Rick let out the clutch and the jeep leaped ahead. A spear +went through the windshield and showered glass on him, but he only +squinted his eyes against the flying splinters and fed the jeep more +gas. + +Ahead were the red taillights of the truck and the other jeep. The plan +had worked, all right. He didn't know whether or not their supplies were +in the truck, but they would soon find out. + +"I'll say one thing about being a Spindrift scientist," Tony said from +beside him. "It is never dull. Do you wild Indians go in for this sort +of thing often?" + +"Only when necessary," Rick said. "Of course it has been necessary +pretty often. So we're in practice, you might say." + +Tony chuckled. "I'm grateful. You know what Nangolat is working up to, I +presume?" + +Rick didn't, and said so. + +"He planned to force me to locate the golden artifacts with the earth +scanner. Then, the find was to be celebrated with the sacrifice of a +head. That was the part I objected to most. You see, the head was to be +mine!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Peaceful Profession + + +The Spindrift campfire blazed high, and its warmth was welcome in the +cold mountain night. Balaban and Dog Meat were out on patrol, although +it was unlikely that any Ifugao had followed the invaders over the +mountain. + +Camp had been pitched in a grove of trees on the Igorot side of the +divide. The boys and Tony had taken suitable clothing from their +supplies and were now equipped with sturdy trail clothes and warm +leather jackets. Chahda, similarly dressed in spare clothes, now +resembled an Igorot only because of his haircut. + +Tony sipped steaming coffee from a battered mug. He grinned at the faces +around the fire: Rick, Scotty, Angel Manotok, Chahda, and Pilipil, whose +wounded leg had been treated with supplies from the first-aid kit. + +"Archaeologist at work," Tony commented. "Digs in musty old tombs all +day, and now and then gets excited about a clay jug or something else he +uncovers. The archaeologist has nothing but old jugs or beetles or stuff +like that to get excited about. It's a peaceful profession, boys. That's +why I like it. Calm, quiet, orderly." + +Pilipil didn't get the irony in Tony's voice, but the others laughed. + +Scotty nodded agreement. "That's the popular idea of an archaeologist, +all right! Sounds like a recruiting ad, doesn't it? Be peaceful and +quiet. Live to a ripe old age. Be an archaeologist. Reminds me of the +recruiting poster that hooked me once. Join the Marines, it said. See +the world. Learn a trade. I joined. Saw the world while snaking on my +belly through the South Pacific. Learned a trade, too. How to fire a +rifle. Very few peacetime riflemen needed, however." + +"We'll combine our trades," Tony said. "You might say we did, earlier +tonight." + +As Rick put more wood on the fire he said, "We're together, for the +first time. Before, either Tony or Chahda was missing. Now what do we +do?" + +Tony considered. "I must admit I was not giving much thought to the +purpose of the expedition when you came after me. I spent most of my +time imagining how my skull would look on the knick-knack shelf in the +hut." + +"What knick-knack shelf?" Chahda asked. + +"You wouldn't have noticed," Tony told them. "It was high in the rear of +the hut, above the opening you made. A shelf full of skulls. I kept +trying to flatter myself that surely my head would be prettier than +those. But I didn't really believe it." + +"Do you really believe the Ifugaos would have taken your head?" Rick +asked. + +"You bet I do! You should have seen Nangolat. He shed civilization with +his clothes. He got down to a breechcloth and he was all primitive. He's +got a bad case of bats in the belfry, believe me. I'd say he was a true +fanatic." + +"Yes," Angel Manotok said positively. "You remember I tell you about +those eyes of his? The doctor is right. Nangolat is crazy. He is a +killer." + +Rick remembered the crazed, distorted face of Nangolat rushing for the +jeep with spear extended. "I vote Nangolat for nuts, too. Insane and +dangerous." + +"This being Mountain Province, Philippines, I don't think it would do +much good to call the men in white coats to bring a strait jacket," +Scotty observed. "So, what do we do? We can ignore him, avoid him, or +shoot him. The first is hard, since he carries a sharp spear. The second +may be possible. The third I reject as being un-scientific and unkind, +not to mention illegal." + +"One more possibility," Chahda offered. "Catch him, tie him up, have +Scotty talk him into stupor." + +Rick chuckled. "You may have an idea there, Chahda. Seriously, Nangolat +is guilty of kidnaping. That makes him a criminal. Surely it isn't wrong +to catch an escaped criminal and turn him over to justice." + +"Not wrong," Tony said, "but maybe just a little bit impractical." + +Rick pressed the point. "Why? If we thought faster, we could have picked +him up tonight. You knocked him colder than a penguin's pocketbook. We +could have tossed him into the back of the jeep like a sack of bones." + +"Yes, Rick. But chances like that don't come twice. Catching him now +would mean making a definite attempt. It would mean an expedition. I +doubt that he'd stay around to be caught." + +"Guess you're right," Rick admitted. "Then, to get back to Scotty's +question, what do we do now? Apparently Nangolat has his people up in +arms against us. There's no law enforcement worthy of the name up here, +so we can't call for help. So what next?" + +Tony poured himself another mug of coffee from the steaming pot. "We +continue after the cache of artifacts." + +The boys stared. Chahda shook hands with the scientist. "Now I see why +Rick and Scotty call you Tony. Number One regular guy. Why let little +thing like whole nation of head-hunters scare you off?" + +"Archaeology is certainly a peaceful profession," Rick said admiringly. +"Scotty and I don't scare easily, but it didn't occur to me that we +should proceed as though nothing had happened." + +"You're getting the wrong impression," Tony said mildly. "Let's consider +the situation. There's Nangolat, the principal troublemaker. What is his +reason for behaving as he does?" + +"Well," Scotty began, "he certainly was the one who tried to kill you on +the boat." + +"I think he was. He would have known all about the expedition from +Okola. He would have known what ship we were on, and a phone call to the +agent of the line would have told him our arrival time, from which he +could easily have figured what time we would enter Manila Bay. He would +also have known that I was the archaeologist for the expedition. After +all, I signed the correspondence we had with Okola, and he was Okola's +assistant." + +"But why would he want to kill you?" Rick asked. + +"For religious reasons. Nangolat is a religious fanatic. I saw that +quite clearly during the time I was his captive. He does not want the +artifacts dug up--or he didn't. Remember the legend? If they're dug up, +drought and earthquakes will follow. By killing me aboard ship, the +expedition would never take place. That must have been how he reasoned." + +Rick was beginning to see light. "Angel, was Nangolat supposed to be a +Christian?" + +Angel shook his head. "No. He was a pagan. Once he went to church with +me, but that was only to see how Christians worship. He worshiped the +Ifugao gods which were in the museum at the university." + +Rick commented, "I imagine his studies with Okola, and especially the +work he did tracking down the legends of the golden skull, made him even +more religious. I won't say superstitious." + +"You're right," Tony said approvingly. "This is not superstition. +Nangolat is as firmly convinced of the correctness of his religious +beliefs as any Christian martyr. I'm sure he considered the object of +our expedition as pure sacrilege." + +"I'm with you up to a point," Scotty remarked. "But why didn't he kill +the lot of us as soon as we landed? He could have gotten Rick and me the +night we met you for dinner. We walked in a lot of dark places, and we +weren't particularly on guard." + +"He tried," Tony reminded them. "We surprised him in my room at the +Manila Hotel. Probably he was examining my effects to see if I had maps +or charts. Then he waited in the walled city and tried to pick you two +off with rifle fire." + +Chahda spoke up. "Not so easy to find chances to kill, even in city like +Manila. With gang, yes. Alone, no." + +"He's right," Tony agreed. "Then, somewhere along the line, Nangolat had +a change of heart. I don't know why. Perhaps his research told him that +the drought and earthquakes would follow the digging up of the golden +skull only if it should be done by unbelievers like us. Perhaps if the +faithful do the uncovering, the Ifugao gods will smile. I don't know. +But Nangolat decided he wanted the expedition to help _him_ find the +artifacts." + +"The old competitive spirit got him," Scotty murmured. "Wanted his side +to win." + +"Maybe," Tony said with a grin. "Anyway, he got away with the earth +scanner; he had it when Nast turned me over to him. Of course he +couldn't use it. So he must have planned to capture one or all of us. He +could have waited until the expedition got here, but things would then +be complicated by our hiring diggers and camp helpers, which he knew we +intended to do. Also, we intended to contact the road commissioner at +Bontoc, a man who represents law and order--such as it is. So Nangolat, +apparently, decided to stake everything on capturing us, forcing us to +find the cache, then removing our heads. By the time the law got around +to looking for us, the artifacts would be well hidden by the Ifugaos, +and so would our bodies. Our skulls would be aging gracefully in some +hidden place. And no Ifugao would know a single thing about it when +questioned. It was a good scheme." + +"Except for one thing," Rick corrected. "The terraces cover miles. We +could spend weeks searching." + +"There's one bit of evidence you don't have, boys. Remember that there +is a major clue to the whereabouts of the cache? A dragon. Well, +Nangolat knows--and has always known without knowing its significance +until now--where the dragon is located." + +Tony smiled at the interested faces around him. "And that's not all. I +know where it is, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Sign of the Dragon + + +The convoy formed at dawn. One jeep was left with Pilipil, who had +learned to drive while working for the United States Air Force. The +other jeep, with Tony, Chahda, and Rick, went ahead as advance guard. +The truck, with Scotty, Angel, Balaban, and Dog Meat, carried the +equipment. + +The earth scanner had been checked. It worked fine. Picks and shovels +were ready, as were Tony's cleaning brushes, knives, and other tools. +When electronic science had located the treasure, old-fashioned digging +methods would have to unearth it. + +Rifles, carbines, and the single shotgun were loaded and ready. Hunting +knives hung at belts. + +Rick, driving the lead jeep, followed the twisting road up into the +clouds that always seemed to hover at the top of the divide. It was +bitter cold, but they were warmly dressed in clothing from their camp +supplies. They kept a sharp lookout for Ifugao guards, but the road was +deserted. + +As the road descended into the Ifugao country, Tony kept watching for +the first rice terrace. Soon he motioned to Rick. "Around this turn, I +think. Slow." + +Rick rounded the turn and emerged on a natural terrace overlooking +Banaue Valley. The sun, just risen, was a golden ball veiled by mist. It +gave the valley a warm, subdued light that reflected from the green +rice, and from the sheen of water in some terraces. + +It was a scene of indescribable beauty. For long moments the occupants +of truck and jeep just looked and said nothing. Then Dog Meat and +Balaban slipped from the truck and went down the road to take up guard +positions. + +Rick and Tony went to the truck and took the earth scanner from Scotty. +They carried it to the edge of the natural terrace and set it up. The +others joined them, weapons in hand. + +Chahda watched with special interest as the covers were taken from the +portable boxes. He had never seen the earth scanner in operation. + +"Plenty magic, I bet. You scientists make poor native boy scared with +this machine." + +Rick snorted. "Come on and be useful, poor native boy. Connect these +leads for me. They go into the Fahnestock clips on those A batteries." + +Chahda made the connection with the ease of one who has worked with +electronic apparatus before, but he kept muttering about how the poor +native boy was "plenty snowed" by wonderful scientists. Rick just +grinned and went ahead with connecting up the scanner. Tony didn't quite +know what to make of Chahda at first, but soon the Hindu boy's dexterity +convinced him that Chahda was pulling his leg. + +Scotty threatened Chahda with the butt end of his rifle. "I'd offer you +to the Ifugaos, if I didn't know they can't use empty heads." + +"You let that poor native boy alone," Rick said with false concern. He +lifted the probe from its foam rubber-lined receptacle and plugged its +cord into the control panel. The earth scanner was ready to operate. + +Its appearance was not unusual. There was a power pack, consisting of +batteries and a dynamotor, an amplifier, and a control panel. In the +control panel was an oscilloscope. The probe looked like an aluminum +pipe but was really a special tube built like a segment of coaxial +cable. The sensing unit was in an inner core, surrounded by an +atmosphere of pressurized helium. At the tip of the probe was the +sensing element which looked very much like the Geiger tube of a +radiation detector surrounded by a helical coil. + +"Come on, you poor native, and I'll show you how it works," Rick +invited. + +"You not expect to find stuff here. You just testing?" Chahda asked. + +"We want to get a standard pattern," Rick said. He pointed to the +valley. "The terrace soil and rocks should be no different than those +right here. So we'll get the typical response of these, and when we get +to our location we won't have to take time--which could be important if +we have Ifugao spear throwers shooting at us." + +"What's typical response?" Chahda asked. + +Rick showed him the helical coil at the end of the probe. "This coil is +an antenna. It's shooting out electro-magnetic waves of very high +frequency. When those waves hit anything, some are reflected. The +reflected waves are picked up by the tube inside the coil. You with me?" + +"Way ahead of you," Chahda said. "Not all things reflect these waves the +same, huh? Maybe the more dense, the better reflect. So loose earth not +reflect too good, rocks little better, metal very good, and stuff like +crystals best of all." + +"Poor native boy," Tony said chidingly. "You knew how it worked all +along." + +Rick shook his head. "He's never seen it before, Tony. It's just that +he's pretty quick on the uptake for a poor native boy." + +Chahda grinned. "Okay, chums, I'll drop the gag. Go ahead, Rick, I not +know everything yet. Why you testing here?" + +"The minerals that make up the rocks and soil here will show a pattern. +We'll mark the pattern on this plastic screen." Rick indicated a circle +of white plastic, scaled like the face of the oscilloscope. "Then, when +we go hunting, we'll be looking for deviations from the pattern. For +instance, there probably is no metal in the ground here. We're looking +for metal. When we find it, the blip on the scope will stand out very +plainly. Got it?" + +"Think so. Sounds easy. Let's see it work." + +Rick held the tip of the probe at waist level. Tony adjusted the +controls until the scope flickered bright green. A vertical line on the +face of the scope was a much lighter green, nearly white. Then, as Tony +switched the activation circuit, the vertical line formed a pattern that +varied in width from top to bottom. Here and there a blip, a clear +horizontal line, thrust out both ways from the center. + +The present pattern was not unlike that of a stylized Christmas tree, +with broad blips representing branches at the base, and increasingly +narrower ones representing the branches at the top. Rick quickly +sketched the pattern on the plastic circle. + +"Now watch," he said, and put his rifle on the ground under the probe. + +The Christmas tree pattern developed a new element that ruined the +design. It was a strong blip, thrusting out from center, about halfway +up the pattern. + +"Steel," Rick said. "Other metals with good reflection qualities would +show blips slightly higher or lower on the scale." + +"Some gadget," Chahda said admiringly. "What else you need know?" + +"That's all." Tony was already closing the cover to the control panel. +"We're ready to move. Rick, suppose we just set this stuff in the back +of the jeep instead of disconnecting it? Chahda could carry the probe." + +"Good idea. Then it will be ready for use." + +Scotty and Angel had been watching for signs of life in the valley +below. At Rick's hail they joined the group. + +"Last instructions," Tony said. "We will try to persuade Nangolat that +our intentions are good, that we do not want to violate taboos, and that +we will do everything in our power to persuade the authorities that the +artifacts should remain in the Ifugao country." + +"If Nangolat is not there," Angel added, "I will explain to the Ifugaos +that we are friends, that we are helping them to find sacred things that +were lost many years ago." + +"And if none of this works," Scotty picked up, "we will make one sweep +with the scanner, looking for the cache, while holding off the Ifugaos. +If they "attack", that is. If one sweep turns up nothing, we will then +beat a retreat." + +"We'll have to worry about spears," Tony said, "but the Ifugao spear is +primarily a stabbing weapon, and they are not the marksmen that the Zulu +is with an assagai. The risk will not be very great. I need not warn you +to keep under cover as much as possible. And to shoot low if we must +shoot. A leg wound will put a man out of action just as effectively as a +hole in the head, at least when his only weapon is a spear. We don't +want bloodshed. We archaeologists are a peaceful lot." + +"Let's go," Scotty said. He climbed into the truck. "Let's make peace +with the Ifugaos." + +"Put your truck into four-wheel drive," Rick called. He started the +jeep, then shifted into his own four-wheel drive. Then, with a toot of +the horn, he started off. A few yards down the road Balaban and Dog Meat +were waiting. Scotty slowed to let them climb aboard. Then the +two-vehicle caravan speeded up to the maximum the mountain road allowed. + +Tony leaned forward, watching intently for the turn-off. Rick kept the +jeep in second as he led the winding way down the mountainside toward +the bottom of the valley. The road was dirt and badly rutted. If they +should meet another car, one would have to back up until a turn-around +was reached. But it was unlikely that another car would be out at this +time of morning. Chances were that a car passed this way only once in a +great while. + +They were among the rice terraces now. No matter which way Rick looked, +his eyes met terraces. Some were no bigger than table tops, perhaps +filling a tiny space between bigger terraces. Some retaining walls were +only a foot high, while the next step up or down the mountain might be a +twenty-foot wall. Irregular giant steps, green with growing rice. Here +and there was one with no rice, showing a film of water. + +Tony called, "Easy. We turn just a short distance ahead." In another +quarter mile he pointed. "Take that road." + +It was little more than a path that wound a corkscrew way among the +terraces, hugging the mountain wall. This was the way Nangolat had +brought Tony, not even bothering to blindfold him. Rick held the wheel +tightly to keep it from jerking out of his hands on impact with a rock. +Then, ahead, the road suddenly leveled. Rick recognized the scene. He +had been here before, last night, during the hours of darkness. + +The mist had not yet cleared, and the limits on his vision made the +scene seem more like it had last night. He knew that to the left, three +terraces down, was the village. Now he could see that to the right of +the road was a small meadow or very large terrace. He couldn't tell +which. The meadow ran perhaps a hundred and fifty feet from the road to +the base of a retaining wall. It was a very high wall, perhaps as much +as sixty feet. Rick hadn't seen another nearly so high. + +"Turn right," Tony said. "Go into the meadow." + +Rick dropped the jeep back into low gear and swung the wheel. The jeep +climbed over a single row of rocks and moved easily across the meadow. +Rick thought the row of rocks probably constituted a retaining wall, so +that made it a terrace instead of a meadow. Anyway, it was firm under +the tires. + +Behind the jeep, Scotty look the truck over the row of stones as easily +as he would have negotiated a high curbing at home. He followed Rick +across the meadow. + +Rick could see now that in the base of the high retaining wall was a +considerable recess. He asked, with mounting excitement, "Is the dragon +there?" + +Tony nodded. "Let's turn around and back into the recess as far as +possible. We want to be facing out, in case we have to leave in a +hurry." + +Rick did so, then directed Scotty. Not until the vehicles were in place +did they run into the recess and look. + +There on a pedestal, a smaller edition of the one Rick had first seen at +Alta Yuan, was the dragon! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Under the Dragon's Claws + + +The Spindrift group jumped into action. Rick, Tony, and Chahda carried +the earth scanner into the recess and set it up. Scotty consulted with +Angel, and at a word from the Filipino, Balaban the Igorot climbed the +wall to the terrace above their heads where he sprawled among the rice +with rifle ready. + +Angel moved to the left about fifty feet, while Scotty moved the same +distance to the right. Dog Meat ran down the meadow to the road, crossed +the terrace, and took up a watch on the village. + +"Work fast," Tony said. "They must know we're here. If they didn't see +us, they at least heard the motors." + +Rick was already at work. He plugged in the probe, checked the controls, +then turned them over to Tony. The scientist set the controls and turned +on the activation switch. + +Rick moved the probe in a long sweep, starting in front of the dragon, +while Tony and Chahda watched the scope. + +"Standard pattern," Tony reported. "Keep it moving ... no change ... no +change...." + +Rick stepped sideways and moved the probe through a slightly different +arc. "No change...." + +Again Rick took a step and swung the probe. He kept moving until the +probe had nearly covered the ground in front of the dragon, then he took +a position next to the bronze statue and covered the ground directly +under its nose. + +"Wait!" There was excitement in Tony's voice. "You're on something!" + +"Metal?" Rick asked quickly. + +"No. It's not a metal response. Some kind of stone, but not the usual +type found around here." + +Tony had a pad out and was making a sketch of the recess, marking the +position of the dragon. Then, while Rick moved the probe through a new +arc, his pencil shaded in the area where the odd response showed on the +scope. + +Rick repeated the scanning process to one side of the dragon, and again +the response was normal until he got close. He changed sides, and the +result was the same. Then he went to the rear of the dragon, expecting a +changed response there. But the results were identical. At last he gave +up, feeling a bit let down, and joined Tony and Chahda. They were +examining Tony's sketch. + +"Plenty clear to me," Chahda said. "Right under old man dragon is round +hole. See?" + +Chahda was right. The changed responses, when charted on Tony's sketch, +showed a circle about six feet in diameter with its center directly +under the dragon. + +"But no metal," Tony said. "That's odd." + +Rick frowned. "It can't be an underground base for the dragon," he said. +"A base would be close to the surface. This response seems to start +about two feet under." + +He stared out across the meadow and noted that Dog Meat was trotting +toward them, but he paid no attention because his mind was working on +the problem. + +"It could be a crypt of some kind," he said. He went to the truck and +got a shovel. "I have an idea." He went to work. + +Dog Meat arrived and chattered excitedly. Angel came running, listened, +and translated. + +"The village is up in arms. Nangolat is making a speech and the young +men are getting ready to make war." + +Rick dug, working on a shaft under the dragon's pedestal. The earth was +packed hard and he had to get a pick. Tony relieved him, and they took +turns until the shaft slanted in to what they estimated was a point +directly under the center of the pedestal. + +"Now," Rick said, and took the probe. He put it into the shaft and +watched expectantly while Tony adjusted the controls. Suddenly the scope +flickered, breaking up the Christmas tree pattern. There were at least +three different responses, two of them definitely in the metals range. + +"This is it!" Tony yelled. "It has to be! Rick, that was an inspiration. +The cache is right under the dragon!" + +There was another yell, from outside the recess. It was Balaban, on the +terrace above. "They come!" + +For the moment the find was forgotten. The Spindrift party stood between +the truck and jeep watching as nearly a hundred Ifugao warriors walked +with menacing silence to the edge of the meadow and stopped. + +Nangolat, naked except for a breechcloth, stepped from the ranks of +Ifugao warriors. He held a spear a foot taller than he, a vicious weapon +with a triangular point and flared base. + +The Ifugao walked ceremoniously across the meadow to a point twenty +yards in front of the recess. "You're trapped," he said. His voice +trembled with hatred. "You can't get away from us now. Come out and +throw down your weapons." + +Tony stepped forward, rifle held carelessly under his arm. He stopped +ten paces in front of the Ifugao. + +"We and you want the same thing," he said. "The artifacts." + +Nangolat thrust the metal-shod base of his spear into the earth. "We +want the same thing, but for different reasons. I want to preserve the +sacred objects of my people. You want to desecrate them." + +"That's not true," Tony replied. "When we touch them it will be with +reverence, with respect for the gods of Banaue. Then, when we have +collected them all, we will buy many pigs for a great feast of +thanksgiving for all the people of Ifugao. The sacred objects will be +used by your priests for ceremonies. Then you, Nangolat, will go with us +when we carry them to Manila. In Manila we will measure them and +photograph them and make sketches. These methods are familiar to you." + +Tony paused, searching Nangolat's face for some sign of a change in his +attitude. "When we are done, we will ask to see the president of the +Philippines. We will petition him to assist in the building of a +temple-museum on this very spot. My scientific foundation will give the +first donation for this purpose. Dr. Okola will help. Then, I hope, the +sacred objects can come back to Ifugao to stay forever, in a place where +all Ifugaos may see them." + +Tony held out his hand, palm upward. "Is that desecration?" + +Nangolat leaned forward, half bowing in his excitement. "The artifacts +must not leave Ifugao!" + +"You know Dr. Okola," Tony replied. "Would he insist that they go to +Manila? I would not. I could take photographs and measurements right +here. The objects need not leave here, so far as I am concerned. That +would be between you and the Filipino authorities." + +Nangolat was obviously impressed. "Wait," he commanded. "I must talk +with the priests." + +He turned on his heel and walked back to the waiting Ifugao warriors. +Several men detached themselves from the group and followed as he led +the way across the terrace toward the village. + +Rick breathed freely for the first time. "Tony, I think he's going for +it!" + +"I certainly hope so," the scientist said with relief. "But regardless +of how the decision goes, the artifacts must be collected. Let's get +some work done." + +How to get the dragon away from the underground crypt was solved with +the truck winch. The cable was passed around the pedestal and the whole +business hauled forward. Then Rick, Scotty, Angel, and Chahda began to +dig while Tony examined each inch of progress for signs that the crypt +was being reached. + +A whistle came from outside. Dog Meat beckoned. The party stopped +digging and hurried out in time to see a station wagon come to a halt on +the road above the village. Six men got out and were met by an elderly +Ifugao. But before they were ushered to the village they took time to +stare at the Spindrift expedition. + +The Spindrift group stared back with a combination of fear, +disappointment, and disgust. Four of the men were strangers. One was an +American--James Nast. The sixth was the Assistant Secretary of the +Interior! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Flying Spears + + +"Just like the old saying," Rick observed. "Birds of a feather flock +together. A crooked Filipino, a crooked American, and a crazy Ifugao are +now in conference. And what is the conference about?" + +"They talk about who wins next World Series," Chahda suggested brightly. + +Scotty scoffed at the idea. "They aren't sports lovers, Chahda. They are +gentlemen of culture. I think the conference is about motion pictures. +My idea is that Lazada and Nast are visiting Nangolat in order to get an +Ifugao opinion on whether the hero should be allowed to kiss his horse +in western pictures." + +Tony Briotti leaned on his shovel. "I can't see how you can be so wrong +when the evidence is so clear. Isn't Lazada the Assistant Secretary of +the Interior? Isn't this the Interior? I think the Ifugao terraces are +about to be converted to a national park, under the Department of the +Interior. The Assistant Secretary is here to discuss the hot-dog +concession with a local bigwig. Of course he has his American hot-dog +expert with him. It's as simple as that." + +Scotty checked his rifle carefully, sighting down the barrel to make +sure it was mirror clean. "They could also be talking about building a +new swimming pool for Ifugao boys and girls, but somehow I doubt it. +What say we not worry about what they're saying to each other, and worry +instead about digging?" + +"Right as usual," Tony said. "Let's keep at it, and perhaps we'll come +up with something worth talking about." + +They had made a good start. Now, working two by two, they excavated +until the shovels rang from stone. Scraping disclosed a flat stone that +probably was a lid of some kind. They resumed digging until the stone +was completely exposed, then tried to lift it. + +"Weighs a ton," Rick grunted. "Did it move at all?" + +"Not that I could see," Tony said. "Let's dig down around the edges more +and see if the stone is anchored." + +Further digging showed that the stone was not anchored. It probably had +been set in some kind of primitive mortar which would have to be broken +before the stone could be lifted. A crowbar from the truck supplied +leverage and in a moment the stone was free. Willing hands found holds, +lifted it free, and slid it to the back of the recess. Where the stone +had been there now yawned a circular opening about the size of a +manhole. + +Tony Briotti was beside himself with excitement. He ran to the truck, +rummaged in the supplies, and produced a flashlight. Then he ran back to +the hole and directed the beam downward. + +The boys crowded around to look. Rick exclaimed in disappointment. The +hole was about eight feet deep and about four feet in diameter. The +walls were coated with green slime and on the bottom there was a mixed +coating of mud and slime and nothing else. + +"False alarm," he said sadly. + +Tony paid no attention. He went to the truck again, and from his own +crate of supplies he produced rope and two galvanized steel buckets. He +also found boots and rubber gloves, a small hand shovel, and an ordinary +garden hand tool with three prongs. These tools he thrust into his belt. + +"I'm going down," he announced. + +Rick realized that Tony was not taking for granted the apparent +emptiness of the hole. He realized, too, that Tony knew much more about +such caches than he. "Okay," he said. "Angel, keep a watch. We don't +want to get caught by surprise while Tony is digging." + +"I've been watching," Angel said. "And we're also being watched by +Ifugaos, on the terraces above the village." + +Chahda looked into the hole doubtfully. "How you get in and out, Tony? +No ladder." + +"The rope," Tony said. "You'll have to lower me, or hold the rope so I +can climb down." + +"We'll lower you," Scotty said. He took the rope and made a loop for +Tony's foot, then directed the archaeologist to sit on the edge of the +hole. Tony did so, putting his foot through the loop. Then Rick, Scotty, +and Chahda payed out rope while the scientist let himself slide from the +edge into the hole. In a moment the rope went slack. He was on the +bottom. + +Rick watched while Tony drove his hunting knife into the wall of the +hole and hung his flashlight on it, the beam shooting downward. Then +Tony took his shovel from his belt and probed the soft earth carefully. +It was so soft that his boots sank in up to the ankles. + +Presently Tony called, "Something here. Get a bucket." He worked with +the shovel and unearthed a small, mud-covered object, then another, then +a whole series of them. + +Scotty tied a bucket to the rope and lowered it. Tony put the muddy +collection in it and Scotty drew it up. + +"Send the rope back for me," Tony called. + +The three boys helped to pull him up. He immediately sat down on the +ground with the bucket between his legs and started to clean his +findings. + +"Rick," he requested, "get me the bag of cloths and brushes from my +case, please?" + +Rick did so. Tony removed most of the mud by wiping it off with his +gloves. Then brushes and cloths completed the job. He held up a human +jawbone, inlaid with gold. His eyes sparkled. "Typical, except for the +gold. The human jawbone is a common Ifugao relic. In fact, they suspend +their musical instruments from human jawbones." He put it down carefully +and started to work on the next object. It turned out to be a pipe, +again typical Ifugao work except for the fact that it was of gold. + +Rick examined it. He had seen pipes something like it before, but made +of clay. "I thought tobacco was an American product," he observed. "How +come these primitive Asiatics had it?" + +"Asia used tobacco long before the Indians introduced it to Europeans," +Tony replied. "But it's curious that the pipe forms should be so +similar. That pipe was made by a process we now use in America for very +delicate castings. It is called the 'lost wax' process." + +"Funny name," Chahda said, interested. + +"Yes, until you know about the process. The Ifugao makes the pipe he +wants out of wax, then coats it with clay, leaving a hole in the clay. +Then he puts the clay in the fire. The clay hardens, but the wax melts +and runs out. The Ifugao, then, has a mold exactly like the pipe he made +of wax. He melts the metal he chooses--gold, in this case--and pours it +into the clay mold. When the metal cools, he breaks off the mold, and +there is his pipe." + +"Lost wax," Scotty said. "You're right. It fits." + +At that moment Angel Manotok came into the recess. "I've been listening. +Don't think I'm presuming, please, but could we work faster? Perhaps +talk about it later?" + +Angel was right, of course. Tony said, "I shouldn't have taken the time +to clean those things. We'll collect them mud and all." He went back +into the hole and worked rapidly, filling the buckets as fast as the +boys could haul them up. + +Rick thought that the crypt probably was dry when the objects were first +placed in it. But the water used to irrigate the rice terraces had +seeped through between the carefully selected stones that lined the pit, +bringing fine particles of dirt and gradually building up a reservoir of +mud in the bottom. Most of the water seeped in and seeped out again, but +the particles of soil remained. + +Tony suddenly gave a cry. "I think I have it!" He braced an object on +his knee and wiped it. "It is! And by its weight, it's thick-walled but +hollow! What a find! Boys, this is wonderful! Tremendous!" + +The scientist tried to place the muddy object in a bucket, but it was +too large to fit. He called, "Can one of you lean away in? I'll hold it +up as high as I can." + +Tony's excavations had taken him down another two feet, but with Chahda +and Scotty holding onto his legs, Rick was able to reach in and take the +object from Tony's outstretched hands. It was bulky, slightly larger +than a human head, and it was heavy--as heavy as lead, or gold! + +Scotty and Chahda pulled Rick out of the pit, then they lowered the rope +for Tony. In a moment he was working on the object, wiping and brushing. +There was a yellow gleam to it now, and the shape was becoming more and +more skull-like as the mud was removed. Tony worked rapidly, and in a +few moments he held it up for them to see. It was a skull, finely +executed of heavy sheet gold, and the workmanship bore the unmistakable +stamp of Alta Yuan. + +"We've succeeded," Tony said, his voice hushed. "Beyond my wildest +expectations!" + +And in that moment Dog Meat and Angel called simultaneously. + +The Ifugao warriors were advancing across the field in ominous silence, +spears ready. Nast and Lazada were nowhere in sight, but at the head of +the warriors was Nangolat! + +Hastily the golden artifacts were put out of sight in the recess and +Tony walked to meet the oncoming Ifugaos. + +Scotty pulled the retractor of his rifle and a cartridge rammed into the +firing chamber. He held the rifle casually, but ready for instant +action. + +Nangolat came closer, and his face was distorted with emotion. He held +the spear in his fist, ready for stabbing or throwing. When he spoke, +his voice, usually moderate, was nearly a scream. + +"I almost believed you," he sobbed. "But now I know the truth! You are +here to desecrate our temples and to rob us of the precious relics of my +people." + +Then the Ifugao saw that the dragon had been moved. He bared his teeth +with fury and his eyes were glazed, black with emotion. He was beyond +reason. + +"Die!" he screamed. "Die!" + +His hand flashed back for the throw. Scotty's rifle spoke sharply and +the heavy slug caught the blade of Nangolat's spear. The Ifugao was +whirled around bodily. He fell as the spear was wrenched from him and +hurled a dozen yards away. + +It was the signal. The Ifugao warriors rushed, launching spears as they +came. Rick pulled Tony back to the shelter of the truck. Angel, Scotty, +and Chahda were calmly firing at the oncoming wave, shooting low with +deadly accuracy. From the terrace above, Balaban was firing down with +good effect, while Dog Meat whammed away with the shotgun. + +Spears bounced off the truck, the jeep, and the dragon. Now and then one +hung quivering in the wall of the recess, but the Spindrift group had +good shielding and there were no casualties. + +The attackers were wavering now. A priest with a knot of chicken +feathers in his hair leaped forward, holding a skull high. Rick guessed +it was an important symbol of some kind, because he saw the warriors +rally. He sighted in and his shot blasted the skull into fragments. The +wave broke and retreated. + +Tony made a quick examination to be sure there were no casualties. Out +on the meadow several wounded Ifugaos, all of them with leg wounds, were +being helped to safety. + +"We can thank Nast and Lazada for this," Tony said bitterly. "Do you +realize that we are in a very bad position?" + +The Ifugao warriors were reforming. Nangolat, recovered from the numbing +shock of Scotty's shot, stormed among them, getting them ready for +another assault. But Nangolat was no longer waving a spear. He was now +armed with a rifle. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Make or Break + + +"We can stand off their assaults," Tony said. "We can't stand sniping. +Not for long, at any rate." + +Scotty grinned. "Neither can Nangolat. Let's see if I can fix his +wagon." + +They watched as Scotty wet his finger, tested for wind direction, then +set the sights on his rifle. On the other side of the road Nangolat was +exhorting his troops like a good general, waving his rifle to emphasize +his words. + +Scotty took a classic sharpshooter's position, relaxed but braced. Rick +saw him inhale and hold it. The rifle muzzle moved slowly, following +Nangolat's movements. Then, suddenly, the rifle spoke. + +Nangolat was thrown into the midst of his warriors, while his rifle, its +stock shattered, flailed into the ranks and knocked two warriors down. +And then Nangolat went berserk. He snatched a spear from one of his men, +turned, and ran toward the defenders, screaming. A priest barked an +order and two warriors dashed forward, caught Nangolat, and hauled him +back by force. + +"The old priest had sense enough to know Nangolat wouldn't make it," +Angel said. + +"All right," Tony said crisply. "We're trapped in here. It's not a bad +place to be trapped for a while. They can't get at us without crossing +open spaces, and there is enough overhang to the wall to prevent them +from dropping rocks on our heads. Also, Balaban is up there to warn us +if they try anything from that direction. But we can't stay here +forever. We need help. How do we get it?" + +"It has to be the constabulary at Baguio," Rick said. "There isn't any +other help nearby. If worst comes to worst, I suppose we could call the +American ambassador and try to get him to send Air Force troops from +Clark Field." + +"By the time diplomatic protocol and military red tape got untangled +we'd be old men," Scotty objected. "If we lived to be old men. Also, you +overlooked one little thing. How do we get a message to them?" + +"Wait until night and one of us sneak out." + +Tony looked at his watch. "We won't last until night," he said +succinctly. "It's still early morning." + +Rick examined the terrain between the cave and the road, noting where +the station wagon Lazada had brought was parked. + +"I'm going," he said. "Let history record that Rick Brant carried a +message to...." + +"Not Garcia," Chahda said. "That was in Cuba, says my Worrold Alminack. +Carry message to cops." + +"How?" Scotty demanded. + +"You create a diversion. I'll get in the jeep and make a run for it." + +Scotty considered. "It could work. But I'll do it." + +"My idea," Rick said firmly. "I'll do it." + +Tony was deep in thought. After all, the safety of the expedition was +his responsibility. "I got us into this," he said. "Bad judgment is no +excuse. I was certain it would work out." + +"Would have, if Lazada had stayed home," Chahda said. "I go with Rick. +He drive, I shoot. Okay?" + +"There doesn't seem to be any alternative," Tony agreed. "Staying or +going makes little difference, so far as danger is concerned. All right, +Rick. We can create a diversion when they start to charge next time. If +we start the truck and roll it toward the village, I'm sure we can +create a little excitement." + +"That's smart," Scotty approved. "The truck would go right on across the +road, across the terrace, and tumble down. It wouldn't hit the village, +though. It would land on the next terrace." + +"I doubt that they'd think of that in the excitement," Tony commented. +"But take away the jeep and truck and you take away our good cover from +spears. We need an earthwork fort, quickly. All hands turn to." + +There were tools enough. While the Ifugao warriors argued among +themselves, and Nangolat, somewhat calmed down, tried to work them up to +a new pitch of excitement, the Spindrift group dug. Within a few minutes +there was a very respectable earthen berm across the front of the +recess. The riflemen could lie behind it and be reasonably protected +from spears. + +They were just in time, too. The Ifugaos were steadying down and +Nangolat had a spear in his hand once more. + +"I'll start the truck," Scotty said quickly. "Head for them, then jump +out, leaving it in first. Don't start the jeep until I'm moving. We +should be able to hold them off until you return in the Sky Wagon." + +Rick suddenly realized that the steel poles for the pickup cable were +with the gear on the truck. He reminded Scotty of the fact. "I'll snatch +Tony's loot right out of your hands," he said. "That will take some of +the heart out of them." + +"Or make them madder," Scotty added. They hurried to unload the truck. +Chahda checked his rifle. + +"Make or break," Rick said. "If I make it, fine. If not, that breaks our +chances down to zero. But I'll make it." + +Scotty ran for the truck cab, climbed in, and started the engine. The +Ifugaos stopped their yelling to look. For a moment they milled around, +uncertain, then Scotty threw the truck into gear and started directly +for them. + +Rick and Chahda jumped into the jeep. Rick started the engine and pulled +out the choke slightly to avoid a possible stall. Scotty leaped from the +truck, leaving the unmanned vehicle to bounce across the meadow directly +toward the ranks of the Ifugaos! They hesitated, then scattered--and +Rick stepped on the gas. + +He angled the jeep across the meadow, coaxing maximum speed out of it, +paying no attention to ruts or bumps. From beside him came the sharp +crack of Chahda's rifle. Once a spear passed overhead and dug into the +rice beyond. + +Then Rick slowed for the stone blocks at the edge of the meadow and let +the jeep climb over them to the road. A spear clanged off the rear and +another ripped the rear-seat cushion. Chahda fired one shot after +another, muttering to himself in Hindi. + +They were on the road! Rick gave the jeep all it would take. In his +rear-view mirror he caught a glimpse of Ifugaos pursuing him, of the +truck stopped at the edge of the meadow, then they were around the curve +of a terrace wall, free. + +Rick kept the accelerator to the floor except on the worst curves. They +climbed out of the valley, crossed the ridge, and emerged at their camp. +Pilipil was waiting. They slowed long enough to yell instructions to +strike the tents and cooking gear, and load them in the jeep and be +ready to leave on a moment's notice, then they drove down the mountain +at breakneck speed, with Chahda holding on for dear life. Fortunately, +they had to pass through only one gate, and the gatekeeper waved them +right through. They passed Igorot villages, narrowly missing chickens +and pigs, then bounced across a river bed and into Bontoc. + +The trip had taken one hour. The boys pulled up in front of the road +commissioner's office and ran in. De los Santos met them. "You are +excited!" he exclaimed. "Is something wrong?" + +"Very wrong," Rick replied. "We must use your phone. How do I get +Baguio?" + +"I will get it for you. Who do you want?" + +"The constabulary!" + +Santos looked startled, but he cranked the phone several times, talked +in Ilokano, and finally handed the phone to Rick. + +A voice at the other end said, "Constabulary detachment. Corporal +Alvarez." + +Rick said quickly, "We need help at Banaue. A party of Americans are +trapped by Ifugaos. Unless they get help quickly, they'll all be +killed!" + +Corporal Alvarez replied, "There must be a mistake. The Ifugaos are +peaceful." + +"Not any more," Rick yelled. "I just came from there. They're throwing +spears. They mean business!" + +Suddenly the corporal was unable to understand. Rick yelled, begged, and +threatened, to no avail. At last he hung up, defeated. "Something's +fishy," he said. "Very fishy. The corporal knew what I meant, I'm sure. +He treated it as a joke. Chahda, Lazada is behind this!" + +Santos coughed. Rick whirled on him. "What do you know about it?" + +"Nothing, I assure you." + +The man was lying. Rick was sure of it. He grabbed him by the lapels and +said, "Talk. Talk! My friends may lose their lives unless we can do +something." + +Chahda took a hunting knife from his belt and put the point against +Santos' throat. "Talk," he said gently. "You have two seconds." He +pushed a little. + +Santos' light-brown complexion turned dirty gray. "All right," he +gasped. "I am a good man, but Lazada is my boss. I do not like what he +has done. Last night he stayed here, and I heard him talk to the +American, Nast. They laughed about how they had told the constabulary +that a group of crazy Americans were up here and would be calling them +with a practical joke, to which they should not pay attention. They told +the constabulary this both in Baguio and Manila." + +"And they believed him, because he is Assistant Secretary of the +Interior," Rick said bitterly. "Now what? We'll never convince them. He +couldn't order them not to help, so he planted a story that would do the +same thing. The only thing I can do now is call the American ambassador +and see if he can go through diplomatic channels to get help." + +"Take too much time," Chahda said. "It will be too late." + +Santos muttered in the native dialect. + +"What was that?" Rick asked sharply. + +"Filipino saying. 'What good is hay to a dead horse.'" + +"Wait!" Rick had a quick mental image of the Filipino officer who had +first spoken the phrase. Colonel Felix Rojas. He would believe the +story. Hadn't he warned them? + +"Get me Manila," Rick said. "Quickly. Constabulary Headquarters!" + +It took time. It seemed like an hour, but was only fifteen minutes. And +Colonel Felix Rojas was on the wire. + +Rick talked fast, telling the colonel the whole story, including +Chahda's espionage activities. When he had finished, Rojas said crisply, +"No time to get troops there. It will take planes. I will send a fighter +plane first. Then will come a platoon of paratroopers, if I can get the +Army to move fast enough. But it will be two hours before the troopers +can get there, even with the best speed possible. The fighter will be +there in an hour. Tell your friends to hold out. Return to Manila as +soon as your party is safe. See no one, talk to no one until you see +me." + +The colonel rang off. + +"An hour," Rick said. "And an hour after that before the paratroopers +arrive. Can they hold out?" + +"They must," Chahda said flatly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Sky Wagon + + +The Sky Wagon climbed out of the valley at Bontoc and Rick set a course +for Banaue. He took his pad and wrote a note to his friends, telling +them of his conversation with Colonel Rojas and of the trick Lazada had +pulled. He wrapped the note around a wrench and tied it with a piece of +string. + +Behind him, Chahda was busy with the bags for the cable pickup. He had +already removed the hatch. He tied the bags in two bundles and put them +in a handy place, to be tossed to the Spindrift group, then he got into +the seat next to Rick. + +"We pick up stuff, even though constabulary coming to rescue?" + +Rick nodded. "The plane can do nothing but scare the Ifugaos off. That +wouldn't prevent them from trying to capture the golden skull, anyway. +And even after troops land, that stuff is too valuable and too tempting. +Don't forget Lazada is on the scene. He could take over from the +troopers and they wouldn't dare say no." + +"True," Chahda agreed. "Better we get it. What you thinking about this +deal with Lazada? Why does Nangolat trust him? And what does he want?" + +"You told us the answers in Baguio," Rick reminded him. "Lazada told +Nangolat he couldn't refuse a permit--which we never got, by the +way--but that he would hinder us in other ways. Nangolat thinks Lazada +is his friend, all right. Lazada must have told him that our real plans +were to carry off the golden skull, probably to America. And why?" + +"Because Lazada wants Ifugaos to massacre us after we have located +skull," Chahda said. "That way, no witness. Dead men not telling stories +on witness stand. Then Lazada and Nast shoot poor Nangolat and take +stuff. Or something like that." + +"Nice people," Rick commented. + +The Sky Wagon was crossing the ridge. Soon they would be back on the +scene. Chahda got into the rear seat, ready to throw the message and +bags out through the access hatch. + +"Wait until I signal," Rick reminded him, and put the Sky Wagon into a +dive. He followed the road for a distance, then saw the truck and used +that for a landmark. As he flashed past the Spindrift refuge he saw that +the Ifugao warriors were in a semicircle around the edge of the meadow. +Apparently the siege was still on. Now to drop the message. He gauged +his distance and altitude. He wanted to be sure the message landed +within reach. + +"Get ready," he called, and circled until he was headed directly at the +recess. When a crash into the terrace wall seemed imminent he yelled, +"Now," and zoomed up into a screaming wing over. When he circled again, +Tony and Scotty were reading the message. + +The second time around, Chahda dropped the bags. Then there was a wait +while Scotty and Angel set up the pickup poles. + +The Ifugaos were obviously curious, nor were they the only ones. Rick +saw Lazada, Nast, and the rest of their party emerge from the village +and walk to a place on the terrace just beyond the meadow. They could +not be seen by anyone within the recess, but they could watch what was +going on in the meadow. + +Scotty knew that Rick could not make pickups while flying toward the +recess, so he was setting up the poles in such a way that Rick could fly +parallel to the terrace wall in which the recess was located. + +The pickup was very simple. Each bag was attached to a circle of cable +about eight feet in diameter. When ready for pickup, the bag was put on +the ground between the two poles and its cable was placed on angle irons +at the tops of the poles. The cable was not anchored. The only purpose +of the poles was to lift the cable far enough off the ground for +convenient pickup. + +Soon the first bag was in place and Scotty and Tony retired to the +recess to watch. Rick pushed a button on his control board and the cable +in the rear of the plane unwound. It was heavy, woven steel, terminating +in a weighted six-inch hook. + +Rick knew from many previous pickups the altitude at which to fly. He +circled for the run, dropped to the correct altitude, and glued the +plane's nose on the poles. The Sky Wagon passed over the poles, and the +hook on its cable caught the cable stretched between the poles. That +cable slid off the supports. The fast-moving plane took up the slack and +the bag of artifacts was jerked from the ground. A touch of the button +and the electric motor reeled it in. Chahda pulled the bag through the +hatch, unhooked it, and put it in the luggage compartment. They were +ready for another run. + +Tony had dug up enough stuff for seven bags. That was a lot of +artifacts. Each time Rick asked, "Was that one the skull?" And Chahda +would shake his head. + +The seventh bag was the skull. Rick was sure because of the +clasped-hands wave Scotty gave him, and because Tony did not retreat +into the recess. As Rick turned for his run he saw the sleek form of a +military plane slip past. Help had arrived. He sighed his relief and +held up his run to watch. The plane buzzed the Ifugaos and dropped a +container with streamers attached. An Ifugao--Rick thought it was +Nangolat--ran to get it. + +Rick could imagine what the note said. "Do not attempt further harm to +the Americans or your village will be bombed." Or some similar threat. +Nangolat might not like it, but he would obey. + +"Here we go," Rick said. He put the Sky Wagon on course and held it +steady. The poles passed from sight and there was a strong jerk on the +plane. That skull was heavy. + +"Bag tearing! Reel in!" Chahda yelled. + +Rick pushed the button and the winch whined, then suddenly screamed as +the load was released. Gone! The skull was gone! He swung in a vertical +bank just in time to see Nast lift the bag to his shoulder. Rick pounded +the seat beside him with helpless rage! + +The golden skull had fallen within reach of Nast and Lazada; it was in +the hands of the enemy. Rick swung in a tight circle and saw them run to +the station wagon and climb in. + +"They waste no time," Chahda said bitterly. "That Lazada, he move fast." + +"We'll never see that skull again," Rick muttered. "What rotten luck!" + +The Hindu boy's face tightened with determination. "We get that skull +back. Rick, fly to Bontoc. Open throttle wide and let us go!" + +"There's nothing we can do at Bontoc," Rick objected. "No one there, or +in Baguio either, would dare question Lazada." + +"Go to Bontoc," Chahda urged. "Leave this to me, Rick. Chahda will take +over." + +"But what can you do?" + +"I will know when the chance comes. You and Scotty will be ready. +Somehow, some place, we will get our chance--and the golden skull will +be ours again!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Nipa Hut + + +Colonel Felix Rojas paced the floor of Tony Briotti's room in the Manila +Hotel. He was in uniform now, but his visit, as he made quite clear, was +not official. At least not yet. + +Rick had just finished relating the story of how the golden skull had +fallen into the hands of Lazada. "Can't you just go to him and demand +the skull?" he asked. + +Rojas smiled sadly. "If only it were that simple. Suppose two Malays +arrived at your Department of Defense and claimed that your Assistant +Secretary of the Interior had stolen a valuable Indian necklace from an +archaeological expedition. What would happen?" + +Rick knew perfectly well what would happen. "They would get thrown +out--if they could get anyone to listen to them in the first place." + +"Exactly. The situation is not particularly different, except that I'm +sure we pay more attention to Americans here than you would to Malays in +your country. After all, you owned us for nearly half a century." + +"You warned us," Scotty said. "Why?" + +Rojas shrugged. "I may as well be frank. I knew of Nangolat's visits to +Lazada. In fact, I was present at one meeting. And I knew that our +esteemed Assistant Secretary was hungry for that buried gold. If I could +prove some of the things I know about that man, he would no longer hold +public office. He would be in jail. My hands were tied, officially, but +unofficially I tried to warn you. I couldn't come right out and denounce +Lazada." + +"Of course not," Tony agreed. "We're grateful that you were able to say +as much as you did." + +Rojas nodded. "Let us continue. After you flew back to Bontoc, what +happened?" + +Rick picked up his tale. "Pilipil was on the mountain, waiting. We +dropped down and signaled for him to go to Banaue in the jeep, then we +landed at Bontoc and picked up the other jeep. Chahda became an Igorot +again. He took the jeep and started for Baguio right away, while I +stayed behind in Bontoc." + +"I don't get the point of that," Rojas interrupted. + +"Chahda intended to follow Lazada or Nast, whoever had the skull. They +were coming over the mountain in a fast station wagon, and there were +only two routes they could take--north to the Kalinga country, or south +to Baguio. We didn't think they would go north. So Chahda started for +Baguio, knowing that they would probably catch up to him before the jeep +reached the Baguio gate. They were in so much of a hurry that they would +not suspect an Igorot who pulled to the side of the one-lane road to let +them pass him, which would make trailing them easier." + +"Smart," Rojas said. "Then your friends arrived at Bontoc late that +afternoon, and you flew them back to Baguio, leaving Angel Manotok to +bring the truck." + +"Yes. Of course we paid off Pilipil, Balaban, and the Igorots who had +guarded the plane. Dog Meat rode back with Angel." + +"And you haven't heard from your Hindu friend since?" + +"No." + +Rojas picked up his cap. "I would like very much to find Lazada with +that golden skull in his possession. It would be a major service to the +Philippines, because it would give the Secretary and the President +positive grounds for his dismissal. I ask a favor. If you hear from your +friend, will you let me know?" + +"First thing," Tony Briotti promised. + +When the constabulary colonel had gone, the three washed up and went +downstairs. Tony was restless and Rick knew that he wanted to get to +work on the artifacts they had flown down to Manila. The Ifugao +treasure, minus the skull, was under guard at the university museum. + +"Go on out to the museum," Rick said. "You're so restless I'm beginning +to itch just watching you." + +"Same here," Scotty agreed. "Go on, Tony. We'll wait here for word from +Chahda." + +"I really would like to," Tony said. "Perhaps I will, if you'll let me +know the moment Chahda comes." + +The boys promised to do so and Tony departed. They found comfortable +chairs in the lounge and ordered fresh limeades. + +"Angel should be arriving with the truck tomorrow," Scotty observed. + +"Yes, with Dog Meat. Wonder if Chahda will be back by then?" + +"I wish he'd let us know where he is," Scotty grumbled. "For all we +know, Lazada may have captured him and tossed him into Manila Bay." + +A waiter approached. "Ask him where our limeades are," Scotty said. "I'm +thirsty. And I'm getting hungry." + +"Again? We finished dinner less than an hour ago." + +"It didn't seem like dinner," Scotty explained. "I can't get used to +eating when the sun is high in the sky. I don't care what time it is, it +should be dark when we eat. Now it's dusk and I'm hungry." + +The waiter bowed. "Phone call for you, Mr. Brant--or Mr. Scott." + +"Thank you. Wonder who this can be?" + +"Chahda?" Scotty asked. + +"That would be too much to hope for. Besides, he sends notes whenever he +can. Doesn't like to phone." + +But it was Chahda. He gave them rapid instructions. Dress in dark +clothing. Meet him at Parañaque, a town to the south, just below the +airport. Hurry. Chahda hung up. He had obviously been excited. + +Rick and Scotty ran for their room. They changed clothes, then Rick +tried to phone Tony at the museum. There was no answer. Constabulary +Headquarters regretted that Colonel Rojas did not answer the phone in +his quarters. They would send a messenger to find him. Rick left the +message that he and Scotty were meeting Chahda, then the boys hurried to +the desk and left a similar message for Tony. + +A taxi took them to Parañaque. Like most small towns in the Philippines +it consisted of a cathedral, a market, a _botica_ or drugstore, and a +few houses. + +They found Chahda in front of the cathedral. He was dressed Filipino +style in slacks and sport shirt, and his hair had been recut to a +modified crew cut-the only cut possible after the Igorot one. + +They dismissed the taxi. Chahda had the jeep. While he drove them +through a backwoods road, he told them his story. He had pulled off the +one-lane road to let Lazada and Nast pass just before he reached Baguio. +Following them had been no problem from then on. They went to a house on +the outskirts of Baguio, and by asking a few questions of the house +servants--after first loosening their tongues with a few pesos--he had +found that Lazada was proceeding on to Manila by car the following +morning. + +"There was a chance he might give Nast the skull to take care of," +Chahda admitted, "but I not think so. Lazada not the kind of man with +liking for letting gold out of his hands. So I go to barbershop, get +haircut, pick up clothes where I left them with a friend of Dog Meat. +Then I drive to Manila and stop at Malolos." + +That was a town to the north of Manila on the road to Baguio. Chahda had +pulled the same trick of letting Lazada overtake him. + +"He comes by, and Nast is with him," Chahda continued. "I am surprised, +because Lazada goes right to his house. I wait around nearly all day. +Cannot call, because no phone handy. Well, tonight he took black +limousine, and he and Nast come to Parañaque. He has skull. They go to +this little barrio where we going, and go into nipa shack. Lazada stays +there with the skull. Nast goes off in the limousine. So what I think?" + +"What do you think?" Rick asked. + +"I think Nast goes to get somebody, to bring them to Lazada. So I rush +off and call you. Before you came, I saw Nast go by. So now the meeting +is being held, and we must figure how to get the skull." + +Chahda reached forward and switched off the jeep's headlights. For an +instant it was very dark, then as Rick's eyes became adjusted to the +darkness he saw that the road was visible as a white pathway between the +rice paddies. Ahead were the lights of houses. They had reached the +barrio where the meeting was to be held. + +Rick looked around and saw that the sky to the north was aglow with the +lights of Manila. Then he saw a plane take off and realized that they +were only a short distance from the airport. + +Chahda pulled off the road into a patch of nipa palms, went through the +palms, and parked behind a feathery thicket of bamboo. "We walk to +shack," he said. He took a bolo from under the rear seat of the jeep and +tucked it into his belt. + +The Hindu boy led them a hundred yards down the road, then turned off +onto a path. In a moment he pointed. + +Ahead, alone in a clearing, was a typical nipa hut. It was built on +stilts in the traditional Filipino way, and there was room underneath +the supporting posts for a tall man to stand upright. The house itself +was square, with walls of woven thatch made from the nipa palm. The roof +was pyramidal, heavily thatched with layer after layer of straw. The +floor was of split bamboo, a single layer of springy bamboo strips as +wide as a man's thumb laid across a framing of whole bamboo supports. + +Except that it allowed mosquitoes to roam in and out and gave no bar to +lizards or snakes, it was ideal for the climate. The openwork floor +allowed the breezes to circulate through the whole house. Also, +housekeeping was simple. Dust couldn't gather. It just fell through the +floor. + +Filipinos had lived in houses like this for centuries, but the influence +of Western civilization was visible in the form of electric lights. It +was visible in another way at this particular nipa hut, too. Next to it +was a shiny limousine, the property of Irineo Lazada. + +Chahda whispered, "We get close. Be very quiet and follow me." + +It was dark enough. Chahda led the way, and Rick and Scotty followed. +There was little cover, but there was no guard outside the house. +Apparently Lazada and Nast felt quite safe. They did not know how +effectively Chahda had shadowed them. + +Chahda made his way slowly until they were beside the big limousine. +There was a murmur of voices from above, Lazada's predominating. + +Rick swallowed hard as Chahda left the limousine and and walked right +under the hut, but he and Scotty followed, scarcely daring to breathe. +It was dark and he almost knocked over a stack of wooden boxes. Then, +under the hut, there was light. + +Rick had not realized that the bamboo floor was nothing more than a +latticework of bamboo strips. He could look right up between them and +see the occupants of the room! + +There was Lazada, of course, and Nast. And with them were two Chinese. + +Nast was talking, "Don't you worry about delivery. If I say I'll get the +skull into Macao, I'll do it. You just worry about the price." + +Rick recognized the name of Macao. It was the Portuguese colony on the +Chinese coast just below Hong Kong. It had the reputation of being the +gathering place for smugglers, gun-runners, Chinese river pirates, and +equally unsavory folk. + +One Chinese spoke in sibilant, accented English. "The price you ask is +too much. The skull is worth its exact weight in gold, at fifty American +dollars an ounce. What do we care if it is a very old native religious +object? That has value only for an Ifugao, not a Chinese, and our +customers are not Ifugaos." + +Rick gasped. Lazada and Nast were intending to sell the skull just for +the gold in it! + +Lazada put his hand on a box that sat beside him on the floor. "The +customers you have usually want bullion gold, true. But perhaps you have +one very wealthy customer who could use a museum piece of great value." + +"If we could have the skull legally, yes. But it is the only one of its +kind. In a few days the press will have sent its description to every +city in the world, because its loss is a good news story. No one in his +right mind would buy such an object." + +"I'm afraid he's right," Nast said. "We'll have to settle for its value +in weight. But that's worth something." + +Chahda pulled Rick's sleeve, then Scotty's. The boys followed him from +under the house back to the edge of the clearing. He whispered, "See the +box? I'm sure that is skull. Now, you feel brave?" + +"What's your plan?" Scotty asked. + +Chahda drew his bolo. "Bamboo cuts easy. Two swings and box falls into +our hands. We run like wild men, they not catch." + +Rick objected. "The skull is too heavy. We couldn't run with it easily. +They'd catch whoever had it." + +Scotty nodded. "And the box is too small for two people to get a good +grip on it. We'd fall all over each other." + +"Could be," Chahda agreed, but he was not convinced. He said that there +must be some way to get the box. + +Rick studied the house as though the sight of it might give him +inspiration. The house didn't, but something else did. "The purloined +letter!" he exclaimed suddenly. "Remember the story by Poe? No one found +the letter because it was in the most obvious place--so obvious that no +one looked." He whispered his daring plan. + +Scotty chuckled. "I'll even forgive you for biting me in Baguio, for +that one." + +Chahda salaamed. "Mighty is the mind of Rick. I glad you on my side. +Let's go." + +They sneaked back to the house and made preparations for the audacious +recovery of the box. Chahda tested the edge of his bolo, reached up with +it, and measured the length of his stroke and where the blade would +touch. It would work. He looked at the boys expectantly. + +Rick knew that bamboo was remarkable stuff. It had great strength +against nearly everything except a sharp blade applied across its grain. +But it had to be cut cleanly. Also, Chahda would have to make two cuts +before the box could drop through the floor. On the first cut, Lazada +and Nast would be moving. They could make it down the stairs before the +second cut was made. + +He shook his head at Chahda. Not yet. He motioned to Scotty and together +they examined the stairs, which ran down the outside of the framing. +Scotty gestured toward the boxes stacked at one corner of the house. +They examined them. The boxes were full of a special kind of sea shell +used commercially in the Philippines. They were fairly heavy. + +Working together, they piled a few boxes on the stairs. Anyone not +watching his footing might fall over them. + +Then Scotty motioned to a stack of bamboo poles just outside the house +pilings. He whispered, "You help Chahda. I'll use one of these." He +selected a long one about two inches in diameter and held it in both +hands like a lance. With Scotty standing beside the stairs, the pole +would reach almost through the door of the hut. + +Scotty nodded. Rick stepped to a position beside Chahda and nodded. + +Chahda flexed his muscles, wrapped his fingers tightly around the handle +of his bolo, spread his feet and swung. + +The steel blade hit the bamboo floor and sliced through, flying in a +great arc. + +There were yells from the men upstairs. Chahda swung again as running +feet made the floor vibrate. Scotty gave a wild yell and charged like a +knight attacking an enemy. The bamboo pole caught Nast in the stomach +and drove him back into the hut. + +The box containing the skull slid and caught. + +Chahda swung again, in desperation, and the box dropped through! Rick +caught it, and the weight would have driven him to the ground had not +Chahda given a hand. + +They rushed the box to its prearranged hiding place, then Rick gave a +piercing whistle. They ran, all three of them, in three different +directions. + +Chahda headed for the jeep. He ran quietly. Scotty headed south, yelling +as he went; Rick ran north, giving an occasional bellow. That was to +draw the pursuit away from Chahda, so he could get to the jeep +undisturbed. + +The pursuit had organized, apparently, because both Nast and Lazada were +barking orders. Rick kept yelling, but he was now in the brush. Scotty +was yelling, too. + +Rick pushed his way through the brush and emerged on the bank of a river +or estuary of some kind. Beyond, on the opposite bank, were rows of +wooden forms that marked the outline of salt pans. Water was let into +the square pools in the early morning, and by nightfall it had +evaporated, leaving its salt behind. + +For a tense moment Rick waited. Perhaps he was not being followed. +Perhaps they had followed Scotty. Then he heard the brush snapping and +knew they were on his trail. He had to keep going. He stepped into the +water and went right on until it was over his head. He spluttered, his +eyes stinging from the salt. The water was brine, already partially +evaporated and ready for the salt pans. + +A few strokes took him to the opposite bank. He climbed out onto the +salt pans, his clothes dripping and his shoes soggy. He ran. + +He was almost across the field of salt pans when a shot whistled past. +He bent low and ran faster, remembering that Nast carried a .38 in a +shoulder holster. + +The second shot was closer, but not close enough. He reached the field +beyond the salt pans and headed for a coconut grove about three hundred +feet ahead. The field was covered with a low-growing vine of some sort. +He floundered and tripped, then got to his feet again, looking back over +his shoulder. Apparently the pursuers were looking for a way across the +water. He couldn't see them. + +He reached the shadow of the coconut grove and stopped, glad of a chance +to wring out his clothes. He did so, a garment at a time, watching his +trail. In a few moments he saw two men emerge from a far corner of the +salt pans and start across. For a moment he turned to run, then an idea +struck him and he grinned. + +There was pretty complete darkness. He could see and be seen in the +open. But under the palms he would be invisible from a distance of +twenty yards. He need not run; he could wait until the pursuit passed, +then walk leisurely to the airport, get a cab, and go home. Chahda +probably was already there. He thought he had heard the jeep engine +start. Even if pursued, Chahda could get away all right. The jeep was +faster than the limousine on rough roads. + +Scotty's fate was less certain. If two men were after Rick, the other +two probably were after Scotty. They had scattered just for the purpose +of splitting the enemy forces, and to allow Chahda time to get the jeep +underway. + +As Rick watched, the two men reached the near edge of the salt pans. One +produced a flashlight and they walked along the edge of the salt pans +shining the light at the ground. + +Rick wondered. Surely they weren't looking for foot-prints. Both the +salt pans and the field were perfectly dry. He wasn't particularly +afraid of the flashlight. He would wait until they were close to the +palm grove, then move laterally away from them and lie flat on the +ground. The light couldn't pick him out from any great distance. + +The men walked slowly down the edge of the salt pans until they reached +the place where Rick had left the pans and entered the field, then, as +surely as blood-hounds, they followed the route he had taken. + +He stared, amazed. How had they tracked him? Then, suddenly, he knew. +Makahiya! The sensitive mimosa! The field was covered with it. And where +he had walked, the mimosa's leaves were rolled up tightly! + +Rick turned and ran through the grove, trying to be silent. He used a +beacon from nearby Manila Airport as a guide, and in a moment he saw red +lights on the other side of the grove. It was the field. They were +boundary lights. + +He saw instantly that he was in a bad spot. The only way to go was +straight ahead, across the open airport. He would be seen instantly when +his pursuers emerged from the grove, and from then on it would be a foot +race. There was nothing else to do but go on. He climbed over the +airport fence and started for the lights of the administration building +a mile away. + +To conserve his strength and wind he kept his pace to a dogtrot. He +crossed one paved strip and cast a look behind in time to see the +pursuers climb the fence. A yell told him he had been seen. He started +to zigzag, anticipating a bullet. His spine tingled and there was a +crawling sensation between his shoulder blades. But when the shot did +come it was such a wide miss that he did not even give an instinctive +duck. + +Somewhere down the line a big plane was getting ready to take off, the +pilot was checking his magnetos, revving up his engines. He searched for +lights as he ran and saw them over a mile down the field. It was a +Strato-cruiser, probably bound for America. Then he saw the runway ahead +and realized that it would be a race to see whether or not he got across +before the plane reached that point. The lights told him that the plane +was already moving. He lengthened his stride. + +He had a choice. He could stop and wait until the big plane passed, or +he could run for it and hope to beat it. If he stopped, it would give +his pursuers a chance to catch up. + +He ran faster, still breathing easily. But there were signs that his +wind was giving out. He cast anxious glances down the field. The big +plane was rolling, its engines roaring. He tried to gauge the point +where it would be air-borne, but it was too hard. It should be in the +air by the time it reached him, but he couldn't be sure. The runway was +only yards ahead now. He sprinted. + +The plane roared down at him. Then he was on the runway, realizing that +he would not be across in time. In sudden terror he threw himself flat, +just as the big plane lifted. The wheels were only a few feet above him +as it passed over. + +Then he was on his feet, running again, weak from the certainty of a +moment ago that he was done for. But the administration building was +only a short distance away now, and he found the strength to keep going. +He ran past astonished airport personnel, made his way through the crowd +that had come to see the flight off, and leaped into a taxi just ahead +of the Filipino gentleman who was about to enter. + +"Get going!" he panted. "Hurry!" The driver responded with a burst of +speed that snapped Rick back against the cushions. He turned and watched +through the rear window, but he couldn't see his pursuers. He had made +it! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Surprise Package + + +Colonel Felix Rojas fingered the eagle on one shoulder. "It took me +thirty years to become a colonel," he said. "If you are wrong, Colonel +Rojas will be Private Rojas by morning. You know that?" + +"If Lazada is at home," Rick repeated, "it will mean that he hasn't +found the golden skull. If he is not at at home, and doesn't come home, +it will mean that he has it." + +"You need not worry, Sahib Colonel. Rick has plenty bright idea. Lazada +will not find that skull, believe me," Chahda assured him. + +Chahda and Scotty had beaten Rick to the hotel, and had found both Rojas +and Tony Briotti waiting as a result of the messages the boys had left. +Chahda had gotten away easily, and he had lingered in Parañaque, parked +in shadow, until he saw Scotty go by. Then he had picked him up. When +Rick did not appear, they went to the hotel to wait for word. + +Scotty had ditched his pursuers easily by climbing a mango tree and +waiting until they passed. He was more at home in the woods at night +than any of them, including Chahda. + +Tony Briotti asked, "Does your father know what kind of chances you +take, Rick?" + +Rick grinned. "He's been along on a few expeditions, remember. He knows +we can take care of ourselves." + +"So do I, now. Colonel, I have faith in the boys' theory. I think we had +better go to Lazada's." + +Rojas nodded. "Even if it means being broken, the chance is worth it to +hang something on that man. Our republic is young. It cannot tolerate +men like him in public office. Without proof we cannot touch him, but if +the proof is there...." + +"It will be," Rick said confidently. + +Rojas picked up the phone and asked for a number. He got his connection, +gave his name, and asked for Captain Lichauco. To the captain he gave +orders. A platoon was to meet him at Lazada's in fifteen minutes. No +earlier and no later. Then he phoned Dr. Okola and requested that he, +also, be at Lazada's. + +"Now," Colonel Rojas said to the Spindrift group, "let us go." + +Ten minutes later they got out of the colonel's car in front of Lazada's +house. A Sikh guard started to open the door for them, but Chahda +stopped him and spoke rapidly in Hindi. The guard replied. + +"He here, also car," Chahda said. + +Colonel Rojas consulted his watch. "We'll wait here." + +The minutes ticked by in silence until the headlights of a truck +appeared. The truck pulled up and a young captain got out of the front +seat. He saluted. Rojas gave his crisp orders in Tagolog, which the +captain relayed to the men on the truck. They climbed down with a +minimum of noise and went to surround the house. + +"Now," Rojas said, "let us visit Mr. Lazada." + +He pushed open the door and marched up the front stairs, the Spindrift +group close behind. At the top of the stairs the constabulary colonel +brushed aside a houseboy and strode into the living room where Lazada +sat with Nast. The two leaped to their feet. + +Lazada turned red. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded. + +Colonel Rojas bowed. "I regret to inform you that you are under arrest +on charges of grand larceny, attempting to sell gold illegally, and +conspiracy to smuggle gold out of the country." + +Lazada snarled. "I'll have you broken for this, you fool! I don't know +what you're talking about." + +"I think you do. These American gentlemen have told me quite a story." + +"I'm sure of it. And whose word do you take? That of your countryman and +senior official, or the word of these foreign adventurers?" + +"Theirs," Rojas said. "I will accept from you the custody of a certain +golden skull, stolen by you from the Ifugaos." + +Lazada had recovered his composure. He chuckled. "I have no golden +skull. You are free to search, even without a warrant, Colonel." + +"Thank you. Please lead the way to your garage." + +"Certainly, but you will find nothing there but my car." + +Lazada led the way to the back of the house and down a flight of stairs +to a garage. If the sight of constabulary troopers with ready carbines +bothered him, he didn't show it. But Nast, obviously, was worried. He +kept casting glances at the boys. + +"Better give the colonel that shoulder gun you missed me with earlier +tonight," Rick told him. "You might hurt yourself with it." + +Colonel Rojas held out his hand. "Give." + +Nast did. + +In the garage was the limousine. Lazada waved at it. "As I told you, +nothing here but my car." + +"And a golden skull," Rick said. He opened the trunk and reached in for +the box! + +Lazada screamed with sudden fear and rage. He leaped for Rick. He met +Scotty's fist and sat down, hard. + +Colonel Rojas had been sweating profusely. Now, at the sight of the +golden skull, he took out his handkerchief, wiped his face, and smiled +contentedly. "We'll need a new Assistant Secretary now," he said +happily. "And we'll ship Mr. Nast back to America as an undesirable +alien. The authorities there will take him into custody." + +"Have you found it? Where is the skull?" someone called. + +Dr. Okola came running up the driveway, and with him, in immaculate +white linens, was Nangolat! + + * * * * * + +The group sat in Dr. Okola's office at the museum. Outside, constabulary +troopers were on guard. Inside, a fabulous collection of golden and +silver artifacts, dominated by the golden skull, received the admiring +attention of the Spindrift group, Colonel Rojas, Angel Manotok, and Dr. +Okola, with Nangolat as lecturer. + +When he had finished describing the various objects and their uses, the +Ifugao said, "And now, I must explain. I am here because I gave myself +up to Dr. Okola. He, in turn, will hand me to the police. I asked only +that I be permitted to examine the treasures." + +Tony Briotti shook his head. "I don't understand. You're intelligent, +well-educated, and well on the road to becoming a scientist. Why did you +do it?" + +Nangolat's broad face was sad but composed. "How can I explain? I almost +killed my good friend Angel. I attacked innocent American scientists who +had no evil intentions toward my people. I goaded the young men of +Banaue into war against the wishes of their elders. It is only because +my gods watched over me that I do not have your blood on my hands. But +how can I explain?" + +His dark eyes pleaded for understanding. "You cannot know what it is to +an Ifugao or an Igorot. In America you respect your primitives--your +Indians. But here, we are just aborigines--primitive animals, eaters of +dog. We are sneered at and despised. To Americans we are curiosities. We +wear breechcloths and funny hats that we use for pockets." + +"Nangolat!" Dr. Okola exclaimed. "I never suspected that you felt like +that. I thought we had always treated you as we did any other student." + +"You were the ones who treated me as a man," Nangolat admitted. "You and +Angel. But when I worked with you in tracing down the golden skull and +what it meant to my people, something happened. The more we learned, the +more I resented the attitudes of the others, those who despise the +Ifugao as a dog-eating animal. I believed that in the golden skull we +had the proof that the Ifugaos were better than any of you, that our +civilization was older. I lost my civilization. I forgot my friends. I +could only think that here was proof of the greatness of the Ifugao, and +that the Americans were coming to take it away." + +"But we said that the artifacts would remain here," Tony Briotti +reminded him. "We told Dr. Okola that we would not ask permission to +take them out of the country." + +"Yes, but I was worried. I went to Lazada, to plead with him to forbid +you to take them under any circumstances, and he told me that he was +helpless, officially. He said that the American Government would insist +on getting the treasures of my people, and that our own government would +have to yield because we need American financial aid." + +"Of all the rotten lies!" Rick exclaimed angrily. + +"Yes. But he was an official of our government and I believed him. Then +he goaded me. He said that only an Ifugao would allow such a thing to +happen, because the Ifugaos were less than men. Men would protect their +treasures. I was emotionally upset already. His goading drove me +berserk. I was truly mad. So, I acted as I did." + +"Tell them what happened at Banaue," Okola said gently. + +"Dr. Briotti convinced me that he was not trying to steal our treasure. +That is, he almost convinced me, and he did convince our priests. But +Lazada came, and he said the American ambassador was already demanding +custody of the treasure as soon as it was found. You know what happened +then." + +"We sure do," Scotty said. + +"Then the jeep got away, and later the plane came. We did not keep +attacking, because many of our young men had lost heart. They couldn't +see the sense of rushing into the muzzles of your rifles over some +treasure they knew nothing about. I had worked them up to the point of +attacking once, but I could not do it again. Then the plane dropped the +sack. We did not know what was in it, except that it must be part of the +treasure. Lazada carried it to his car. I followed and demanded the bag. +He said he had no bag, although it was in plain sight. He was smiling. +He said the plane got all the bags; he didn't have any. I saw at once +what he was doing. He was going to take the bag and pretend that he had +never seen it, and it would be the word of a group of poor Ifugao +natives against the word of a great official. I saw red. I reached for +him, and Nast struck me with his gun." + +Nangolat rubbed his head. "He knocked me out, and he knocked sense into +me. I walked to Bontoc and took the bus south. Now I am ready to be +punished." + +Rick was deeply touched by Nangolat's recital. He remembered how +favorably impressed they had been that first day, when they thought he +was Angel. "Speaking for myself," he offered, "I am grateful to Nangolat +for a warm reception at Banaue, and for an interesting visit to the rice +terraces." + +Scotty took the cue. "As for me, I haven't had so much fun in a fight +since that free-for-all at Canton Charlie's in Hong Kong." + +Chahda bowed. "I also represent ancient Asia people. Very grateful to +Nangolat for fine demonstration of how Ifugaos fight. Very different +from Hindu method." + +The three boys looked at Tony. He had suffered the most at Nangolat's +hands. Nangolat had tried to kill him, then had kidnaped him, and had +intended to take his head. + +Tony smiled. "And I am grateful to Nangolat for personally conducting me +to Banaue and for putting on such an interesting series of rituals and +dances." + +Angel Manotok went to Nangolat and took his hand. "Can a Filipino be +less of a friend than an American? It was too bad I fell on my head and +almost fractured my skull. How nice it was of you, Nangolat, to pretend +to be me so I would not lose face with the Americans by not appearing to +work for them." + +There were tears in the Ifugao's eyes. "What a magnificent group of +storytellers you are!" + +Colonel Rojas grinned. "Sounded like the truth to me, Nangolat. And if +anyone wants to know what kind of men the Ifugaos are, send them to me. +I led Mountain Province warriors against the Japanese. They attacked +tanks barehanded. They fought like fiends. They made me proud to be a +Filipino." + +Tony Briotti picked up the golden skull. "We have a lot of work to do, +Nangolat. We'll need your help. And all of us will have to testify +against Lazada." + +"Golly, that's right," Rick said. "What a nuisance that will be. We'll +have to wait around for weeks." + +"Not that long," Colonel Rojas promised. "This is one case that will be +tried in a hurry. But you will have to stay a while. You will my guests. +There's a lot of the Philippines you haven't seen. We might even be able +to stir up a little excitement for you." + +"No, thanks," Rick said. + +"Sorry," Chahda said. + +"Need peace and quiet," Scotty said. + +Tony laughed. "Don't believe them. They may stay quiet until tomorrow, +but I doubt it. What do you have in mind?" + +"I'd like to take them to Mindoro Island, south of here, to hunt +timarau. In case you don't know, those are water buffalo. They rate as +the most dangerous game animal in Asia." + +"Too exciting for me," Rick said. + +But in later years when the Ifugao expedition was mentioned, Rick, +Scotty, and Chahda always talked much more about the hunting on Mindoro +than they did about their encounter with the Ifugaos. And they were +prouder of the timarau heads in the study than of the Ifugao spears that +had been thrown at them and brought back by Angel as souvenirs. + + + + +_The_ RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE _Stories_ + +BY JOHN BLAINE + + + THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + THE LOST CITY + SEA GOLD + 100 FATHOMS UNDER + THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + THE PHANTOM SHARK + SMUGGLERS' REEF + THE CAVES OF FEAR + STAIRWAY TO DANGER + THE GOLDEN SKULL + THE WAILING OCTOPUS + THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + THE SCARLET LAKE MYSTERY + THE PIRATES OF SHAN + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Skull, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN SKULL *** + +***** This file should be named 32270-8.txt or 32270-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/7/32270/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Golden Skull + +Author: John Blaine + +Release Date: May 6, 2010 [EBook #32270] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN SKULL *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="center"> + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the<br /> + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + <br /><br /><br /> +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>THE GOLDEN SKULL</h1> + +<h3>A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY</h3> + +<h2>BY JOHN BLAINE</h2> + + +<h4>GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS<br /> +NEW YORK, N. Y.</h4> + +<h4>COPYRIGHT, 1954, BY<br /> +GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC.</h4> + +<h4>ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</h4> + +<h4><i>Printed in the United States of America</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<h3><i>The Ifugaos, faces distorted with hatred and fury, pursued them.</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 Head-hunter</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II. <span class="smcap">Manila After Dark</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III. <span class="smcap">The Gods of Banaue</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV. <span class="smcap">Inside the Walls</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V. <span class="smcap">Manotok the Mighty</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI. <span class="smcap">Chahda Checks In</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII. <span class="smcap">Igorot Country</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII. <span class="smcap">The Bontoc Road</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX. <span class="smcap">Ifugao Country</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X. <span class="smcap">Ambush</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI. <span class="smcap">Warriors Three</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII. <span class="smcap">The Ifugao Village</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII. <span class="smcap">The Peaceful Profession</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV. <span class="smcap">Sign of the Dragon</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV. <span class="smcap">Under the Dragon's Claws</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI. <span class="smcap">Flying Spears</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII. <span class="smcap">Make or Break</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII. <span class="smcap">The Sky Wagon</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX. <span class="smcap">The Nipa Hut</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX. <span class="smcap">Surprise Package</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%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/map.jpg" alt=""/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2>THE GOLDEN SKULL</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>The Head-hunter</h3> + + +<p>It was hot in the cabin of the freighter <i>Asiatic Dream</i>. The heaviness +of the tropical heat outside the ship penetrated through the steel and +flaking paint of the deck to turn the cabin into an oven.</p> + +<p>Rick Brant and Don Scott, stripped to their shorts, were oblivious of +the heat. They sat hunched over a three-dimensional chessboard, studying +the complex moves of their newest hobby. Now and then they glared at +each other, or paused to wipe the sweat from their faces or arms, but +otherwise they concentrated on the three-layer board and the chessmen. +The rivalry was intense, and had been ever since Hartson Brant, Rick's +distinguished scientist father, had introduced them to the game back +home on Spindrift Island.</p> + +<p>Watching them was Dr. Anthony Briotti. Clad in tropical tan shorts and +nothing else, he looked like a college athlete. Little about him +suggested that he was an archaeologist with an international reputation.</p> + +<p>Presently he rose and left the cabin, heading for the deck. He didn't +bother to say where he was going; he knew the boys wouldn't even notice. +On deck, Briotti leaned against the rail and peered ahead to where the +rocky fortress of Corregidor loomed at the mouth of Manila Bay. His +pulse beat faster at the sight of the famous island. He knew its +outline. He had commanded a destroyer during World War II. Even though +the faint light of a new moon showed only vague outlines, he recognized +the old Spanish prison rock below the overhang of Corregidor, and he +remembered that his guns had blasted at the Japanese from that very +point.</p> + +<p>Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow move fleetingly. He turned +but saw nothing. Then, because he was busy with his memories, he turned +back to the dim, haunting view of Corregidor and thought no more about +it.</p> + +<p>Below, Rick Brant moved his king diagonally across the three-dimensional +chessboard and said triumphantly, "Checkmate!"</p> + +<p>Scotty rose, drew back one muscular leg as though to kick the set into +the air, then grinned. "Had to let you win. Bad for morale to lose all +the time. Next time I'll teach you how to lose."</p> + +<p>Rick snorted. "You let me win like a mother bear would let me walk off +with her cubs. It's my remarkable intellect that won that game, and +nothing else."</p> + +<p>"Won by your wits, eh?" Scotty mopped his wet face. "And you only half +armed!"</p> + +<p>Rick shied a chessman at him. "Wait until we teach this game to Chahda."</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "He'll probably beat us both at once, then we'll find +out he learned how to play from the latest edition of <i>The World +Almanac</i>."</p> + +<p>Chahda, their Hindu friend, had learned about America by memorizing an +old copy of the <i>Almanac</i>, and he quoted from it at every opportunity. +Since their first meeting in Bombay during the adventure of <i>The Lost +City</i>, the Indian boy had been with them on several expeditions. Now he +was to meet them in Manila to help them in their search for one of +ancient history's most fabulous treasures.</p> + +<p>Rick, a tall, slim boy, with light-brown hair and brown eyes, led the +way up the ladder to the deck. Scotty, bigger and slightly darker in +coloring, followed close behind. They walked toward the bow, searching +for Briotti, their eyes not yet accustomed to the darkness.</p> + +<p>Rick called, "Tony?"</p> + +<p>"Here by the rail," the archaeologist answered.</p> + +<p>The boys moved toward him, but someone—or something—moved faster. A +shadowy form sped past them, and Rick's quick eyes caught the flash of +light on steel. He yelled, "Watch it!"</p> + +<p>Tony moved, and a steel blade clanged off the ship's rail. Rick and +Scotty leaped forward, grasping for the shadow. The steel blade lifted +again. Scotty grabbed a wrist and twisted. The blade clattered to the +deck. Rick got his arms around a sweaty waist and squeezed, bracing his +feet to lift the man off the deck. Then an elbow caught him in the +Adam's apple and flooded his eyes with tears of pain. He loosened his +grip involuntarily and felt the man squirm free. Scotty yelled, "Get +him!"</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti swung a roundhouse right that missed and sent him sprawling +off balance. Then the assailant was on the rail, poised. Scotty lunged +for his ankle as the man dived cleanly out and away from the ship into +the dark water. The three rushed to the rail, watching for the swimmer.</p> + +<p>"Man overboard!" Tony's voice lifted in a shout that brought the crew +running.</p> + +<p>For a few moments there was confusion as the officers and crew tried to +find out what had happened, and then the searchlight on the bridge was +manned and its white beam cut the water.</p> + +<p>There was no swimmer. But off toward Bataan Peninsula the light +reflected from the patched sail of a <i>banca</i>, an outrigger canoe, +sailing toward shore with a bone in its teeth.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the three Spindrifters stood in the captain's +office, staring at a Filipino bolo, a long, slightly curving machete +with a square tip. Tony hefted it and shuddered. "If you hadn't +yelled—well, this thing landed right where my head had been a second +before."</p> + +<p>"If I hadn't said anything," Rick replied, "it wouldn't have been +anywhere near your neck. I put the finger on you by calling your name."</p> + +<p>Scotty snapped his fingers. "Of course! The guy must have been hiding, +until he heard us call. Then, when you answered, he knew you were the +one he was after, and he went for you."</p> + +<p>Tony stared, incredulous. "But why? I can't imagine why a mountain +Igorot would board the ship for the express purpose of killing me!"</p> + +<p>It was Rick's turn to stare. "How did you know he was an Igorot?"</p> + +<p>"Either an Igorot or an Ifugao," Tony replied. "I caught a glimpse of +his head structure as he jumped onto the rail. Besides, the haircut is +distinctive. It looks as though a bowl had been put on the head and all +hair removed that it didn't cover."</p> + +<p>Rick knew that an Igorot was a primitive native of the Philippine +Mountain Province. All of them had received a series of lectures on +Philippine ethnology from Tony before leaving home. The Igorots bore +roughly the same relationship to the regular Filipino as American +Indians do to the white American. Ifugao natives were much like the +Igorots, but with a slightly more advanced culture. They, too, lived in +Mountain Province, the objective of the Spindrift expedition.</p> + +<p>The trip had grown out of an earlier expedition to Kwangara Island in +the western Pacific. Dr. Anthony Briotti had helped translate the +tablets found in the sunken temple of Alta Yuan, and had discovered the +connection between the early people of the Philippines—of whom the +Igorots and Ifugaos were the descendants—and the white dragon +worshipers of Alta Yuan.</p> + +<p>One plaque from the sunken temple had described the Ifugao rice terraces +of Mountain Province in unmistakable detail, and also had described a +skull of gold which was said to have magic properties.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti had been so enthusiastic about locating this fabulous +skull, and proving the connection between Alta Yuan and the Philippines, +that Hartson Brant, head of the Spindrift Foundation, had made +arrangements for the small expedition. None of the other Spindrift +scientists could be spared, so Tony Briotti had only Rick and Scotty as +assistants. Chahda was to join them in Manila. The boys thought that was +help aplenty. No other helpers were needed.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it," Tony stated. "It is simply beyond possibility that +an Igorot could have boarded this ship with the express intention of +killing me. More likely, he boarded the ship to steal, thought he was +discovered, and headed for the rail where his banca was tied. I was in +the way. That's all."</p> + +<p>"No one saw the banca approach," the ship's captain said, "but of course +it could have. We've been traveling at only a few knots, and the banca +could have approached from the stern, thrown a line over the rail, and +tied up. Dangerous, but a clever native could do it. They're like cats. +Make fine sailors." He added, "Never heard of it being done before, but +there's no reason to think it was an attempt at murder. Thieves in the +Orient are willing to take long chances."</p> + +<p>Rick stared through the port at the lights of Manila. He was very +thoughtful. Let Tony try to brush the incident aside. He knew better. He +knew it in his bones. There was trouble ahead for the Spindrifters.</p> + +<p>He caught Scotty's worried frown, and he knew that his pal's thoughts +were the same.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>Manila After Dark</h3> + + +<p>Out of the <i>Asiatic Dream's</i> forward hold swung the sleek shape of an +airplane fuselage. Rick bristled with nervous energy as he watched. He +yelled, "Watch it! Take it easy with that winch!"</p> + +<p>Scotty patted him on the shoulder. "Take it easy yourself before you pop +a gusset. They're doing all right."</p> + +<p>Rick didn't take his eyes off the plane. "Okay. But if they drop it, +we'll hike into the mountains instead of flying in style. Hey, you! Lift +it! Lift it clear of the rail!"</p> + +<p>The plane was Rick's new Sky Wagon, a powerful little four-place job +that had replaced his beloved Cub, wrecked by saboteurs, as related in +<i>Stairway to Danger</i>. It had less than ten hours' flying time, and he +didn't want it wrecked by having a careless winchman bash it against +something. But in spite of his fears, the fuselage was lowered safely +onto the waiting truck, the wings in their crates were brought out, and +in a short time the boys were riding with the plane out to Manila +International Airport.</p> + +<p>The day was still young. The freighter had anchored off the Manila port +area during the night, berthing in the early hours. The Spindrift party +had checked into the Manila Hotel, and Tony, leaving the boys to +supervise the unloading and clearance of their equipment, had gone off +to the University of the Philippines. Now the crates of equipment were +in the customs shed waiting to be picked up, and the plane was en route +to the airport to be assembled. Everything was going smoothly, +except ...</p> + +<p>"Chahda," Rick mused. "Where do you suppose he went?"</p> + +<p>"The day I can figure out Chahda's comings and goings is the day I +polish my crystal ball and solve the rest of the world's mysteries. He's +probably off studying <i>The World Almanac</i>."</p> + +<p>Chahda had been registered at the Manila Hotel but had checked out three +days before their arrival. He had left no forwarding address and no +message.</p> + +<p>"He's probably somewhere in the Indian colony of Manila," Rick +speculated. "Quite a few Indians here, mostly Hindus. They call 'em +Bombays, Tony said."</p> + +<p>"He'll show up," Scotty said. "He always does. Wonder how Tony is making +out?"</p> + +<p>Tony had gone to see a colleague, a Filipino archaeologist by the name +of Dr. Remedios Okola. It was through Okola that arrangements had been +made with the Philippine Government for their expedition—or would be +made. Their permit had not yet been issued.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know they had a university here." Scotty added, "Until Tony +started writing to this Filipino scientist."</p> + +<p>"You should read the stuff Tony brought," Rick replied. "The Philippines +has a dozen universities."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "Chahda is probably taking a course in one of them. +Getting a degree of D.D."</p> + +<p>Rick took the bait. "What? Doctor of Divinity or Doctor of Dentistry?"</p> + +<p>"Neither. Dean of Disappearances."</p> + +<p>Rick groaned. Still, it was true. Chahda was the most disappearing +person he had ever known. The truth was, as he well knew, Chahda loved +the dramatic. The little Hindu boy thoroughly enjoyed baffling his pals +with theatrical appearances and disappearances. Not that he did his +vanishing act just for fun, however. There was usually a good reason.</p> + +<p>Arrangements had been made by mail and confirmed by phone that morning +for hangar space at Manila International Airport. While giant +transpacific passenger liners landed or took off, and while the busy +twin-engined island hoppers of Philippine Air Lines kept the field +active, the boys assembled the Sky Wagon.</p> + +<p>Even allowing for Rick's pride of ownership, the Sky Wagon was a beauty. +It was painted pure white with a red strip along the fuselage. It could +carry four, plus a fair amount of cargo. It had flaps which permitted +slow landings and short take-offs, and it had retractable landing gear +and variable-pitch propeller.</p> + +<p>Under the rear seats was a special feature—a small hatch through which +a winch-driven cable could be operated.</p> + +<p>This was a typical Rick Brant labor-saving device. Back home, Rick was +the errand boy for Spindrift Island, an island off the New Jersey coast +where the famous Spindrift Foundation was located. Until he acquired the +Sky Wagon, his grocery shopping meant landing at Whiteside Airport, +hiking into town, picking up the groceries, lugging them back, loading +them in the Cub and flying back to Spindrift.</p> + +<p>Now he could phone in his order, get into the Sky Wagon, lower the +weighted cable, and swoop low over the grocery store, which was located +on the outskirts of Whiteside. The hook at the end of the cable snagged +another cable hung between two steel poles on the roof of the store. The +sack of groceries—it was a special strong canvas sack—were on the +cable and needed only to be reeled into the plane.</p> + +<p>It worked fine. The only trouble was that Rick had never collected eggs +intact. The shock of the pickup was a little too much. When he solved +that problem, he would make arrangements with the electronic supply +house in Newark to let him put up the same kind of rig. Eventually, he +hoped, he would get so efficient that he never would have to land on the +mainland except to deliver a passenger or to pay a personal visit.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty checked the plane over with the greatest of care, and +then Rick got in and started the engine. He let it warm up, watching his +instruments. Everything was fine. He motioned to Scotty, who was +watching and listening from outside.</p> + +<p>Scotty got in, and Rick taxied to the end of a runway. While he revved +up the engine, Scotty obtained take-off permission from the control +tower, and in a few moments they were air-borne, enjoying the sudden +drop in temperature.</p> + +<p>"First time I've stopped sweating in a week," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>Rick nodded and motioned to pump up the landing gear. The hydraulic +system worked on a hand pump between the two front seats. It was not as +satisfactory as a motor-driven pump, but it took no electric power and +used up no valuable weight. Besides, a few strokes on the pump did the +job. He leveled off at five thousand feet above the city.</p> + +<p>Below, the Pasig River cut the city in half. They traced the line of the +great wall around Intramuros, the ancient walled city, and they found +the white mass of the American Embassy across Dewey Boulevard from some +very modern apartments. They passed over the Manila Hotel, then saw the +ruins of infamous Fort Santiago.</p> + +<p>Inland, the land was lush green with high mountains rising in the +distance. To the north lay Mountain Province, and behind the screen of +mountains was their destination.</p> + +<p>There was still work to be done, so Rick reluctantly took the Sky Wagon +down again. It was in perfect condition; no need for further flight.</p> + +<p>They lunched at a modern drive-in on Dewey Boulevard, the split-lane +highway that runs along the edge of Manila Bay, then picked up their +crates of supplies at customs. This was a light expedition, so there +were only three crates. One held their camp gear and trail clothing. +Another crate held Tony Briotti's special tools and reference books. The +third held the most important object of the expedition—the Spindrift +Experimental Earth Scanner, called SEES for short, and further +abbreviated by the boys to a sibilant hiss.</p> + +<p>"How's the SS working?" Scotty would ask, and Rick would answer: "'Sfine +'scan be."</p> + +<p>The boys were old hands at expeditions and they had learned from bitter +experience about the number of unexpected things that can happen to +baggage, so in spite of some opposition from the hotel clerk, they +insisted on stowing the supplies in their room. This done, they got into +bathing trunks and cooled off in the hotel pool. There was nothing to do +now but wait for Tony—and Chahda.</p> + +<p>When they returned from their swim a message was waiting, brought by a +messenger from Tony Briotti. Rick read it, then handed it to Scotty. +They were to have dinner with Tony's colleague Okola, and an Assistant +Secretary of the Interior, a Mr. Lazada, at the latter's house. Dinner +was at ten. They were to arrive a half hour early, and wear dinner +jackets.</p> + +<p>"Dinner at ten!" Scotty was stunned. "It must be a mistake. No one could +live until that hour without food."</p> + +<p>The desk clerk overheard the comment and smiled. "Old Spanish custom, +sir. Many Filipinos follow Spanish custom."</p> + +<p>"Very fine for those who are used to it," Rick said. "But here's one +Americano who is not going to follow Filipinos who follow old Spanish +custom."</p> + +<p>"Two Americanos," Scotty corrected. "We will follow old American custom +of snack early, English custom of dinner at eight, and then Spanish +custom of dinner at ten. That way we get plenty chow, hey?"</p> + +<p>This exchange was for their own benefit. The clerk did not overhear +because they were hurrying to their rooms to change.</p> + +<p>It was not too early to get into dinner jackets. They hauled out what +Scotty called their "penguin rigs" and got into them. In spite of +feeling a little self-conscious, they looked brown and handsome in their +white tropical jackets with maroon bow ties.</p> + +<p>They found a table on the porch, looking out over Manila Bay and the +great field called The Luneta. By turning a little Rick could see the +traffic on Dewey Boulevard. Rick had never seen anything like it. +Apparently Filipino drivers were all mad at something, and all under the +impression that no other vehicles were on the road. Also, Filipino +drivers obviously had wild affection for their horns. They tooted +constantly.</p> + +<p>"The life of a pedestrian must be less than ten minutes in this town," +Scotty commented.</p> + +<p>"Pedestrians are nothing but the raw material for accidents," Rick +agreed. "Look at that!"</p> + +<p>Among the busses, the cars, and the jeeps that ranged the boulevard +trotted a half-dozen two-wheeled carriages drawn by tiny horses. These +were the <i>calesas</i> of bygone days, still competing with Manila's +countless taxis for passengers.</p> + +<p>"We should hire two and have a chariot race," Scotty suggested.</p> + +<p>They had a sandwich and a cold drink made with <i>calamansi</i>, the pungent +small Philippine limes, then walked across the boulevard to where the +great wall of the old city rose high in the air. The wall was of huge +stone blocks, rising about four times the boys' height into the air. It +was perhaps twenty feet thick at the base.</p> + +<p>Within the walls there had once been a city of a hundred thousand +people, but it was there that in World War II the Japanese had chosen to +make their last stand. Most of the people of the city had been wiped +out, along with their Japanese captors, and of the ancient buildings +only a cathedral remained. The area had been bulldozed flat in most +places, and Quonset-type warehouses, called <i>bodegas</i>, had replaced the +ruined Spanish buildings.</p> + +<p>"Rick, look at this!" Scotty called, pointing to a fern-like plant that +grew near the wall. "Watch." He touched it and the leaves rolled into +tight tubes. "How about that?"</p> + +<p>A Filipino gentleman, immaculate in a white nylon suit, watched them for +a moment, then joined them. "The plant is strange to Americans, I think. +It is a sensitive mimosa. You have the mimosa in America, but not this +variety."</p> + +<p>"It's good of you to explain, sir," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Not at all. In Tagalog, the plant is called <i>makahiya</i>. It means, +literally, 'I am ashamed when you touch me.'"</p> + +<p>"It's ashamed, so it closes up," Rick said. "That's charming. Tagalog +must be a picturesque language."</p> + +<p>The Filipino nodded. "It has a certain flavor. Allow me to introduce +myself. I am Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippine constabulary."</p> + +<p>Rick took his first good look at the Filipino and immediately recognized +the soldierly bearing and lean fitness of the professional soldier. He +introduced himself and Scotty.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas smiled. "The young men who are going to dine with the +esteemed Assistant Secretary tonight, eh? Welcome to our country." He +bowed and walked away, leaving them openmouthed. Then, as an +afterthought, he turned. "Surprised? Don't be. We are interested in +strangers until their intentions are known. Yours are above reproach." +His smile faded. "However, you may be interested in another bit of +Tagalog." He spoke briefly a phrase that seemed to be mostly vowels.</p> + +<p>"What does it mean?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>The colonel's eyes searched theirs. "What good is hay to a dead horse," +he said and walked away.</p> + +<p>The boys stared at each other.</p> + +<p>"A very good question," Rick said at last. The colonel had vanished into +the Manila Hotel. "Scotty, what good is hay to a dead horse?"</p> + +<p>"The deceased equine has little use for hay," Scotty said. "Obviously. +Was that a warning?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what it was," Rick said. The phrase could have been a +warning, but of what? And how had the colonel known where they were +dining? He put the question aloud.</p> + +<p>Scotty shrugged. "Doesn't the constabulary come under the Department of +the Interior? Maybe Lazada told him. A colonel would be pretty high rank +in the constabulary; he could even be the commander."</p> + +<p>The Philippine constabulary had a long and distinguished history. It was +similar to a police force, but was a military organization. It was, Rick +thought, something like a cross between the American state militia, the +Texas Rangers, and any good state police force.</p> + +<p>"I'm snowed," Rick said at last. "The only thing I'm sure of is that he +wasn't looking for information when he asked what good is hay to a dead +horse. Come on. Let's start for Lazada's."</p> + +<p>The way led across busy Taft Avenue, named for the American president, +across the Ayala Bridge which spanned the Pasig River, and past Malaccan +Palace. The palace was the equivalent of our White House. In its time +Spanish, American, and Japanese conquerors of the Philippines had lived +there. Now it housed the president of the Republic of the Philippines.</p> + +<p>It was very dark by the time they passed the palace. They left the +street-lighted area and entered an area of old Spanish houses. The Pasig +River was very close. They could smell the water hyacinth which floated +endlessly down to the sea.</p> + +<p>The air was heavy with unshed rain. The boys had long since shed their +jackets and were carrying them. Now the heat seemed to push down on +them, muffling even the sound of their leather soles on the cobbles. +They passed a solitary street light and Rick read the sign. They were on +the right track. The hotel clerk's directions, obtained before they ate, +had been very good.</p> + +<p>"Almost there," Rick whispered, then wondered why he hadn't spoken +aloud.</p> + +<p>Apparently Scotty was feeling the same physical oppression because he +didn't comment on the whisper.</p> + +<p>The houses were two-story, old Spanish style, with much wrought-iron +fancy work. Few lights showed. Such houses presented only blank faces to +the street. The life inside them found its open air in secluded patios +in the rear.</p> + +<p>"We must be getting close," Scotty said. His voice was very low.</p> + +<p>Rick unsnapped his key ring. It had a pencil flashlight attached. He +shot the light over the house fronts, searching for a number. A +cream-colored lizard darted frantically out of the circle of light into +protecting darkness.</p> + +<p>"Two more numbers," Rick said. "Must be the house after the next one." +He flashed the tiny light ahead and froze as he saw the shape of a man. +Beside him, he felt Scotty tense.</p> + +<p>It was silly to stand frozen. Rick moved ahead, slowly, and the shape +took form. Turban, flowing tunic with sash. Fiercely whiskered face. A +Sikh guard.</p> + +<p>He breathed a sigh of relief. Sikhs—Indians—were noted for their +bravery and fighting ability, and they could be found in most cities of +the Far East, usually employed as private guards or police.</p> + +<p>The Sikh came to attention and Rick noted that he was rather small for +his race. Most Sikhs were big men. He had kept the light on the bearded +face, noting that the beard was neatly tied in the Sikh fashion. Brown +eyes stared unblinkingly. A hoarse voice said, "This ees house of +Meester Secretary Lazada. Please to enter."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the voice changed and Rick nearly jumped out of his skin.</p> + +<p>"Go right on up the stairs, meatheads. Scotty must be hungry. He always +is."</p> + +<p>Rick choked.</p> + +<p>"Chahda!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>The Gods of Banaue</h3> + + +<p>Scotty reached out for the Hindu boy, but Chahda stepped nimbly aside. +"Not time for horseplay now," he said. "Or talk either. Houseboy will +hear. It important I stay under cover. You go up and eat. Later, if I +can, I will come to Manila Hotel. If I cannot, I will meet you in +Baguio."</p> + +<p>The boys knew better than to argue. They each punched Chahda +affectionately as they passed him, then Rick knocked on the door, which +was instantly opened by a Filipino houseboy.</p> + +<p>The houseboy led them up a steep flight of stairs into a huge living +room, sparsely furnished after the tropical fashion, but with exquisite +and expensive Chinese furniture of rosewood and teak. Tony Briotti came +to meet them, then introduced them to Dr. Remedios Okola and the +Honorable Irineo Lazada.</p> + +<p>Dr. Okola, obviously, had a great deal of Spanish blood in his ancestry. +He was tall and lean, with a deeply lined face and a magnificent +hawklike nose. His hair was iron gray. He wore black dress trousers and +an open-neck slipover shirt of a very fine, almost transparent, fabric +heavily embroidered down the front. The shirt hung outside his trousers +in traditional style. This was the <i>barong</i> Tagalog, the native Filipino +costume.</p> + +<p>Where the Filipino archaeologist showed his Spanish blood, the Honorable +Irineo Lazada's face betrayed his Chinese ancestry. He was round of +face, and his eyes had the typical Mongoloid fold. He was dressed in an +expensive white sharkskin suit with a white American-style shirt and a +black tie. The tie was held in place by the biggest diamond Rick had +ever seen. He assumed it was real; no one would wear a phony one that +big.</p> + +<p>Lazada had a huge Manila cigar in one hand and a fan in the other. By +some feat of legerdemain he managed to shake hands with the boys without +letting go of either.</p> + +<p>"Come in, come in," he said genially. "Welcome to the Philippines. You +will have some refreshment? How about a coke?"</p> + +<p>That suited the boys fine. Lazada waved a pudgy hand and a slippered +houseboy appeared like a genie, carrying two iced glasses of coke. Rick +was not in the least surprised. He had had his favorite American +beverage in more unexpected places than this.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti explained, "Dr. Okola and I just got here. We had a most +interesting day at the university. I was beginning to go into the +details of our expedition with Mr. Lazada."</p> + +<p>"Please continue," Lazada said expansively.</p> + +<p>Rick, who was sensitive to voices, had the impression that Mr. Lazada's +voice passed through a bath of highly refined oil before it emerged from +his thick lips. It wasn't exactly oily—just sort of overlubricated.</p> + +<p>Lazada alternately smoked and fanned. "You were telling me of Spindrift +Island. Am I to gather that you are the only Spindrift scientist on this +expedition? And that these young men just came for the voyage?"</p> + +<p>"By no means." Tony set Lazada straight. "Rick is our pilot and +electronics technician. Scotty is mechanic and camp manager."</p> + +<p>"Pilot?" Lazada looked surprise.</p> + +<p>Dr. Okola hastened to explain. "I neglected to tell Mr. Lazada that you +are bringing your own plane. Of course, sir, permission was obtained in +advance from the Philippine Aeronautics Authority."</p> + +<p>"A helicopter, of course," Lazada said. "Nothing else would be of value +in Mountain Province. The only air-field is at Baguio."</p> + +<p>"It's a four-place Sky Wagon," Rick said. "We hoped there might be some +suitable landing places."</p> + +<p>Lazada shrugged. "Perhaps there are, but they are not regular airports. +Planes do not fly in that country. Both the mountains and the weather +are dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Might it not be possible for them to land on the roadway at Bontoc and +then go over the mountains to Banaue by truck?" Dr. Okola asked.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps." Lazada didn't seem too optimistic. "Exactly where do you +expect to find this golden skull?" He added, "I can tell you more about +the transportation you will need when I know that."</p> + +<p>"We only know that it should be somewhere among the rice terraces," Tony +Briotti said. "I realize that they cover entire mountainsides. That is +why we came prepared to stay for some time if need be. There is so much +territory to cover with our equipment!"</p> + +<p>"Many square miles," Lazada agreed. "What is the expression? A needle in +a haystack? Surely you must have some kind of clue."</p> + +<p>"Just one," Dr. Okola said. "A dragon. Isn't that so, Dr. Briotti?"</p> + +<p>Tony nodded. "That's what the translation of the Kwangara Island +artifacts said. The dragon is supposed to be guarding a cache of +religious objects, including the golden skull and other gold objects."</p> + +<p>"You mean a gilt skull, of course," Lazada said.</p> + +<p>"No, the description was quite clear. A skull of metallic gold."</p> + +<p>"A miniature, probably."</p> + +<p>"No, sir. The skull is actually larger than life size."</p> + +<p>Lazada stopped slouching in his chair. "Incredible!"</p> + +<p>Dr. Okola spoke up. "After all, Mr. Secretary, gold is mined right here +in the Philippines. In Mountain Province, in fact. And it is found in +many other parts of Asia."</p> + +<p>Rick had a strange feeling as he watched Lazada's face. The Assistant +Secretary seemed to be licking his lips, although he wasn't actually +doing so. It was almost as though Lazada was doing sums in his head.... +Gold is heavy.... It would take a lot of gold to make a life-size skull, +even a hollow one.... Gold is worth thirty-five dollars an ounce, +legally. If smuggled into China, it would bring twice that....</p> + +<p>"Tell me more of this dragon," Lazada invited.</p> + +<p>Tony was glad to oblige. Next to actually working at his profession he +enjoyed talking about it. "The dragon is of the greatest importance +throughout the culture of the East. We followed its trail from the great +temple of Ankor Vat in Cambodia all the way to the sunken temple of Alta +Yuan."</p> + +<p>Rick remembered vividly. He had been at the controls of the Submobile, a +hundred fathoms under the waters of the Pacific, when the first Alta +Yuan dragon came to light.</p> + +<p>"The dragon was the incarnation of the chief god of the Alta Yuan +people. When an earthquake sank the temple, the people of the island +lost their gods. When we hauled the dragon back up and gave it to them, +nothing was too good for us." He paused. "By 'we' I mean the Spindrift +scientists. I was not among the lucky ones, since I had not yet joined +the Spindrift group."</p> + +<p>Okola shared Tony's excitement over the Alta Yuan find. "I, too, was +very much interested in that expedition. And when I heard that the +artifacts brought from the bottom of the sea provided a possible +connection between the Philippines and that ancient culture, you can +imagine my excitement."</p> + +<p>Rick could see that Lazada could not possibly imagine so much excitement +over an archaeological find, but was too courteous to say so.</p> + +<p>"Then finding a similar dragon among the rice terraces would show a link +between our country and the ruins of Ankor Vat?" Lazada asked.</p> + +<p>"Exactly," Tony replied.</p> + +<p>Lazada rose. "Dinner is ready. Let us continue our discussion at the +table."</p> + +<p>They went out to a balcony which overlooked a garden at the rear of the +house. A table set with the finest Chinese linen and delicate Siamese +silverware was waiting for them. Houseboys waited to serve them. Over a +dinner of broiled giant prawns, meat-stuffed rolls called <i>lumpia</i>, and +whole barbecued suckling pig called <i>lechon</i>, they continued their talk +of the expedition.</p> + +<p>"What is the significance of the golden skull?" Lazada asked.</p> + +<p>"I did not know until today," Tony answered. "I found out from my +esteemed colleague here. He has been doing some very hard work on it. +Will you answer, Dr. Okola?"</p> + +<p>The Filipino archaeologist looked pleased, but he hastened to say, "The +credit is not mine alone. I had the invaluable assistance of one of my +graduate students, who is himself an Ifugao. A brilliant young man. Next +week I am attending a celebration at his home, in honor of his becoming +an assistant professor at the university."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I didn't meet him," Tony Briotti said. "Did you mention his +name?"</p> + +<p>"Nangolat. However, Mr. Lazada asked about the significance of the +golden skull. We were able to uncover a story about it among the many +Ifugao myths, a story of which I had not been aware until Dr. Briotti's +letters put me on the track. You realize that the Ifugao religion is +rich in myths. It is a very complicated religion with over a thousand +gods."</p> + +<p>Scotty whistled. "They must have a god for nearly everything they say or +do."</p> + +<p>"Just about," Dr. Okola agreed. "Even their universe is divided into +five regions. There is the known earth, <i>pugao</i>; the sky world, +<i>kabunian</i>; the region downriver, <i>lagod</i>; the region upriver, <i>daiya</i>; +and the underworld, <i>dalun</i>."</p> + +<p>"What river?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Any river on which they happen to live," Okola answered. "No one knows +exactly what the original river of the Ifugaos might have been. You see, +they are immigrants. They came from the Chinese mainland, but we don't +know exactly when, or whether their original home was China. Perhaps we +will find out that it was Cambodia. We do know that their miraculous +rice terraces were started at least two thousand years ago."</p> + +<p>"That makes them almost as old as the pyramids!" Scotty exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Quite right. The whole culture is quite astonishing. We think of them +as primitive people, but their history is more complex than our own. +However, we are speaking of heads. Heads have always been of the +greatest religious importance to the Ifugaos. They have been +head-hunters for religious and economic reasons for centuries. First +America, and then the Republic of the Philippines tried to stamp out the +custom. In general, we have succeeded. There is little or no +head-hunting now—so far as we know."</p> + +<p>Lazada grunted. "The mountains are difficult to police. I doubt that we +know all that goes on. I wouldn't be surprised if a head wasn't taken +now and then. After all, the Ifugaos got the heads of two American +professors only a few years ago."</p> + +<p>"The murders were for religious reasons," Okola explained. "Sacrifices +were needed for the rice crop. The unfortunate professors were on a +hiking trip, and they happened along at just the wrong moment."</p> + +<p>Rick remembered newspaper reports of the incident. It had attracted +world-wide attention. The Ifugao natives responsible had been captured +by the Philippine constabulary, tried, and punished.</p> + +<p>Okola continued, "We have traced back a thread through the complicated +maze of Ifugao myths. The thread leads to a legendary hero—the +leader-god who led the Ifugaos to the Philippines. The golden skull was +originally his own, turned to gold by the very power of the hero's +magic. After his death, of course. At first it was an ordinary skull, +then it turned to gold."</p> + +<p>"Then the skull has something to do with head-hunting?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Indeed it does. It is apparently the chief object to which heads are +sacrificed—or was, before it was lost. The golden skull is <i>almaduan</i>, +the very soul stuff of the Ifugaos."</p> + +<p>"How was it lost?" Scotty inquired.</p> + +<p>"In a war," Okola said, quite seriously, "between the <i>kabunian</i>, the +gods of the sky world, and the <i>dalun</i>, the gods of the underworld. The +<i>dalun</i> won. They took the head and disappeared into the ground +somewhere in Banaue. Behind them, they left a great taboo. If an Ifugao +tries to follow them into the underworld to reclaim the skull, great +misfortune will come. An earthquake will destroy the terraces. The +people will starve. They will be haunted by the <i>dodingerot</i>—ghouls who +dwell in tombs and bite the faces of intruders."</p> + +<p>"Then the Ifugaos will take a dim view of our hunting their golden +skull," Rick guessed.</p> + +<p>"They might if they knew about it," Dr. Okola said. "Actually, what I +have just told you is almost forgotten lore. I doubt that the Ifugao man +in the street—or, properly, man in the rice terraces—has ever heard of +it. A few old priests may remember."</p> + +<p>Irineo Lazada clapped his hands and rose. "Coffee in the living room, +gentlemen. You know, I begin to have some hope for this golden skull. I +had not really taken your expedition seriously until Dr. Okola's +recital."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti picked him up quickly. "Then that is why you have failed to +issue our permit?"</p> + +<p>Rick stopped in his tracks. Was there trouble about their permit? He had +wondered about the reason for this dinner with the Assistant Secretary +of the Interior. Perhaps it was to persuade him.</p> + +<p>Lazada smiled. "The government doesn't want to stir up trouble among the +mountain tribes. We do not have enough constabulary for police duty in +the mountains. A small detachment at Baguio is the best we can do."</p> + +<p>"I assure you that we will not stir up trouble," Tony Briotti said.</p> + +<p>"Of course not. And so I will issue your permit."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Mr. Secretary," Dr. Okola said. "This will mean a great deal +to the Philippines. Dr. Briotti assures me that Spindrift will not ask +for anything to be removed from the islands. The golden skull, if it is +found, will remain right here, perhaps at the university's museum."</p> + +<p>"Such a treasure would need to be well guarded," Lazada chuckled. "We do +have thieves in the Philippines, as does every other country." Again he +seemed to be licking his lips without actually doing so.</p> + +<p>Over a second cup of coffee they laid their plans. Lazada would instruct +the district road commissioner at Bontoc to co-operate with them in +every way, since that official came under his jurisdiction. Through the +district commissioner they could hire any laborers they might need. The +commissioner also would arrange for Rick's plane to land on the highway +at Bontoc when necessary. Since there was little traffic, landing would +present no real problems. They could use the district office at Bontoc, +and make it their headquarters.</p> + +<p>Dr. Okola sighed, "I can't tell you how sorry I am that you come in the +midst of a school seminar. If you are still searching at the end of next +week, I will join you. But until then, it will be impossible."</p> + +<p>"But you will send us a good guide who knows the area," Tony reminded +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He will be at your hotel in the morning. His name is Angel +Manotok, and you can trust him with no hesitation. He speaks Igorot and +Ifugao, as well as the Filipino dialects of this region. He can drive a +truck, and he can cook reasonably well." Okola pronounced the man's name +in the Spanish way, "Ahng-hel."</p> + +<p>"Sounds like a handy guy to have around," Scotty remarked.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Rick agreed. "Besides, it's nice to have an angel in the party."</p> + +<p>The hour was late. The boys and Tony Briotti bade good night to Lazada +and Okola, refused the offer of another coke but accepted a ride back to +the hotel in Lazada's car. As they left the house the boys looked for +Chahda. There was a Sikh at the gate, but he was a big man. Chahda was +not in sight.</p> + +<p>Lazada's car turned out to be a brand-new Cadillac with a special maroon +paint job and a monogram about four inches square on every door. +Evidently the Assistant Secretary believed in personal advertising.</p> + +<p>They were tired. The ride back to the Manila Hotel was made in silence, +except for a brief report to Tony that all was in readiness for the trip +to Baguio on the first leg of their journey.</p> + +<p>At the hotel desk they picked up their room keys. The boys had one room, +Tony another. The rooms were on the second floor, so they walked +upstairs instead of bothering with the slow elevators.</p> + +<p>"Good night, boys," Tony said wearily. He inserted his key and swung the +door open, then stiffened as a crash sounded in the room. Rick and +Scotty snapped out of their weary haziness and leaped into the room +behind Tony in time to see a figure dive headlong from the window.</p> + +<p>Rick yelled in horror. They rushed to the window, expecting to see the +man dead on the ground below. Instead, they saw him swing lightly from +the branch of a flame tree and drop to the ground. He ran across Dewey +Boulevard and was lost in the darkness under the walls of Intramuros.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>Inside the Walls</h3> + + +<p>"The fire escape!" Scotty yelled.</p> + +<p>Rick was with him on the instant. They ran to the end of the corridor, +threw open the door, and dashed down the fire escape. No word passed +between them as they crossed Dewey Boulevard. At a time like this their +teamwork was automatic.</p> + +<p>They reached the walls of Intramuros, and Scotty went left, Rick right. +Somewhere along the walls, or within the city, was the intruder. The +question was, Had the intruder kept right on going across the walled +city, or was he in hiding, waiting to see whether or not he was being +pursued? If the former, their chances of catching up with him were +almost zero.</p> + +<p>Rick rounded the corner of the wall and had a clear view all the way +down to the Department of Commerce building nearly a half mile away. +There were sufficient street lights to show him that the quarry was not +in sight.</p> + +<p>He saw a breach in the wall a few yards away and hurried toward it. +There was almost no light within the walled city, he suspected, but he +would have to look. The breach turned out to be a pile of rubble. He +would have to go over the wall unless he wanted to search for an +entrance. There wasn't time for that. He climbed up the pile of rubble, +careful about his footholds, and gained the top of the wall. For a +moment he was silhouetted at his full height.</p> + +<p>And in that instant a rifle cracked. He saw the muzzle flame, and in the +next instant he heard the soft smacking sound of the slug as it went +past his ear. There was only one thing to do. He jumped.</p> + +<p>The wall was high, and he had no way of knowing what was below, but it +was better to risk unknown rubble than another shot from the sniper's +gun.</p> + +<p>He landed with knees flexed, struck level ground, but fell forward with +the momentum of the fall. Thorns dug into his hands and he smothered a +grunt of pain. He lay where he was, not moving, waiting for some move +from the sniper and for his eyes to adjust themselves to the dense +blackness within the walls.</p> + +<p>He wondered whether the sniper and intruder were the same man. The +intruder had carried no rifle when he went out the hotel window. But it +was possible that he had cached one somewhere under the wall.</p> + +<p>What could the man have been after? Rick rejected the idea that this was +common thievery. It was possible, but not probable. Especially after the +attack on Tony Briotti aboard the boat. And after finding that Chahda +had gone underground and was posing as a Sikh.</p> + +<p>He was sure something was cooking that boded ill for the expedition. Nor +did he have to rack his brains to find the cause. A golden skull was +reason enough. Mass murder had been committed for less gold many times +before this.</p> + +<p>His eyes searched the darkness, and his ears strained for the slightest +sound, but no movement or noise followed. Yet, unless the sniper were +the world's most silent walker, he could not have slipped away.</p> + +<p>And where was Scotty?</p> + +<p>Again he pondered the mystery of Chahda. The Hindu boy had been +registered at the Manila Hotel, waiting for the Spindrift party. Then, +three days before their arrival, he had checked out and gotten a job as +a guard at Lazada's. The disguise didn't cause Rick much wonderment. +Sikhs, after all, are Indians, and Chahda had once worked for a Sikh +officer in the Bengal Lancers. Rick remembered that from an incident +during the Tibet expedition. It was probable that Chahda had simply gone +to the chief Sikh in Manila—there was always such a leader—and +enlisted his aid.</p> + +<p>But why?</p> + +<p>Rick tensed, sensing a presence near him. He raised on one elbow and +thought he discerned a figure nearby. The figure was close to the wall. +He had a hunch that it was Scotty, but he couldn't be sure. He made no +further movement, waiting to see.</p> + +<p>The figure became clearer, passed close in front of him, and from his +low vantage point the man was silhouetted against the sky, which had a +pink glow from the myriad neon lights of downtown Manila. No doubt of +it, the figure was Scotty's. Rick got to his feet, and staying close to +the wall, moved in the same direction Scotty had taken.</p> + +<p>The inner ground of the walled city was fairly clear, but close to the +walls there was considerable debris. Rick proceeded carefully, trying +not to make a noise. He picked his way through tangles of weeds and +wire, loose stone, and piles of junk that had been accumulating since +the days of the Spanish conquistadors.</p> + +<p>He was tense, and his face was wet with sweat. There was a possibility +that the sniper was gone, but if not, a noise could bring a lethal slug. +Rick thought grimly that the ancient walled city probably had seen many +a murder in the more than three hundred years since the wall had been +built. He had no desire to be the most recent victim.</p> + +<p>Even as the thought crossed his mind, his foot struck the edge of a +twisted sheet of steel. The sheet, all that remained of a Japanese +armored car, rang dully.</p> + +<p>Instantly the rifle flamed. The slug smacked into the stone wall a foot +from Rick's shoulder. He didn't wait for the next shot. He hit the +ground, scuttled a few feet, and stopped in a thorny patch. He grimaced +and risked wiping the sweat off his brow. At least one question was +answered. The sniper had not left.</p> + +<p>Rick knew that the mysterious rifleman could have gotten away before +this. The fact that he was still lying in wait could mean only one +thing. He had known he was being pursued by the Spindrifters, and he had +waited in the hope of picking off one or two of them.</p> + +<p>Fingers of ice laid themselves across Rick's spine. It was no fun being +the object of deadly intentions. He lay very still.</p> + +<p>His hand brushed something soft among the thorns, and he thought he knew +what it was. He was lying in a patch of the tiny pink flowers known as +<i>cadena de amor</i>—chain of love. He had seen them everywhere during the +day. They grew like weeds anywhere they were allowed to flourish.</p> + +<p>The humor of it touched him. How romantic his sister Barbara would think +it—to be trailing a desperado through an ancient Spanish city, and to +be flat on one's stomach in a patch of chain of love. If he got out of +this with a whole skin, he would write her about it, omitting such +unpleasant facts as rifle bullets striking too close and thorns among +the flowers.</p> + +<p>But unless he did something about it, he probably would still be lying +there at dawn. He rose to his knees, then to his feet, holding his +breath until lack of response from the rifleman told him he had not been +observed. Then he resumed his slow march in the direction Scotty had +taken.</p> + +<p>All guidebooks to the Philippines mentioned the walled city as a +"must-see" item for tourists, and Rick had intended to take a daytime +tour. This was not a suitable substitute. He would still have to return +by day. He moved on, with extreme caution. He could see nothing but the +upper edge of the wall and the silhouette of the ancient cathedral a few +hundred yards away. But movement of air, a slight thinning of the +darkness, told him when he passed openings in the thick wall.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he stopped, all senses alert. He had heard something. As he +waited, muscles rigid with the strain of listening, he heard a whisper +no louder than the rustle of a moth's wing.</p> + +<p>"Rick?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he breathed.</p> + +<p>Even though he was expecting it, he gave an involuntary jump when +Scotty's hand touched his sleeve. Scotty's lips touched his ear and the +husky ex-marine whispered almost inaudibly:</p> + +<p>"Gate to the street. Ten paces ahead. I have an empty gasoline drum. +Going to throw it. If he fires and is close enough, rush him. If not, +make for the gate. Can't stay here all night."</p> + +<p>Rick found Scotty's shoulder and squeezed it to indicate agreement, then +he crouched low, ready to move like a plunging fullback in any +direction.</p> + +<p>Scotty moved away. In a moment Rick heard the faint scrape of metal on +stone. He filled his lungs with air, then held his breath, waiting.</p> + +<p>He sensed rather than saw Scotty lift the gas drum over his head. Even +when empty, gas drums weigh quite a bit, but Scotty launched it like a +medicine ball. Rick saw it briefly, a cylindrical shadow against the +sky, then it landed with an appalling clatter, struck sparks from a +stone, and rolled noisily away.</p> + +<p>The rifle flamed one, twice. It was perhaps twenty paces away, and the +shooting was toward the drum. Rick rushed forward, arms outstretched. He +heard a slap like a baseball hitting a glove, then a cry of pain. The +rifle blasted again, muzzle skyward.</p> + +<p>Rick thought he heard a siren wail, but there wasn't time to wonder. He +sprang headlong toward the rifleman. His shoulder struck flesh which +yielded. Then warm metal touched his hand and he grabbed for it. The +rifle barrel! He leaned on it, keeping it vertical, and put his weight +into the job of driving its owner back off balance.</p> + +<p>A blow caught him under the eye and he saw stars. For a moment he +relaxed his grip, then he released the rifle and reached until he found +cloth. He pulled, letting himself go backward as the wearer of the cloth +was pulled off balance. He landed on his back, and a knee in the chest +drove the air out of him. He rolled sideways, fists driving out. One +connected and the shock of hitting bone ran through his knuckles and up +his arm.</p> + +<p>A heavy weight landed on his stomach and he grunted, trying to roll out +from under. Again his fist lashed out and connected. He drew it back for +another punch.</p> + +<p>Brilliant light illuminated the scene. Rick blinked in the glare and saw +Scotty's grim face above him. Scotty had his fist cocked back for a +punch that would have knocked him colder than a raspberry popsickle.</p> + +<p>"Hold it," Rick grunted. Scotty was forcing the air out of him by sheer +weight.</p> + +<p>Running feet pounded the earth and hands jerked both of them to their +feet. Scotty held the sniper's rifle, but the sniper was gone.</p> + +<p>A Filipino policeman looked at them over the sights of a .45 caliber +Colt automatic. Even in the reflected lights of the prowl car's head +lamps, the muzzle looked only slightly smaller than the entrance to +Mammoth Cave.</p> + +<p>Rick's hair lifted. "Put that thing down!" he gulped.</p> + +<p>"Officer," Tony said crisply, "these are the two boys from my party. +They were chasing the burglar." He added, "Apparently they succeeded +only in catching each other. What in the name of an Igorot icebox were +you two trying to do?"</p> + +<p>The boys looked embarrassed. "We had the sniper," Rick explained. "But +we must have got tangled up. I thought the man with the rifle was the +burglar, but it was Scotty."</p> + +<p>"He threw the rifle at me," Scotty said. "I reached for him, swung on +him and connected, then the rifle knocked me down."</p> + +<p>The policeman's running mate came back from a search of the darkness. He +spoke to his companion in Tagalog.</p> + +<p>"No use," the first policeman said. "He is gone. We would need help to +find him, since the walled city is big and has many hiding places. Can +you give a description? By the time help came he could be miles from +here. Perhaps we can get him later."</p> + +<p>Rick knew how hopeless that was.</p> + +<p>"Unless the boys got a better look," Tony Briotti said, "the only thing +I can say is that he was either an Igorot or an Ifugao. Short and +muscular. I saw his haircut—couldn't very well miss it. But not his +face."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty hadn't even seen that much. An Igorot or Ifugao? +Probably the latter, since their expedition was connected with the +Ifugaos and not the Igorots. Rick remembered the incident on the +freighter. There was a pattern to this....</p> + +<p>"I will be the one to take the rifle," the policeman said.</p> + +<p>Rick wondered at the strange flavor of the phrase. But he was to hear it +many times while in the Philippines. "I will be the one...." It was a +literal translation from the Spanish.</p> + +<p>"I will be the one to take the names," the second policeman said, +opening his notebook. "You will have to make charges."</p> + +<p>"No use," Tony replied. "Let's forget the whole thing. We'll never catch +up with the man, whoever he was."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the police insisted on names and histories, and it was ten +minutes before the Spindrifters made their way back to the hotel. In the +main dining room they talked over cups of hot chocolate, ignoring the +curious stares of late supper guests who obviously wondered about Rick +and Scotty's disheveled condition.</p> + +<p>Since the boys had not wanted to discuss their personal business in +front of Lazada's chauffeur there had been no chance to tell Tony about +Chahda. Now they did so, and Rick ticked off points on his fingers.</p> + +<p>"Item One: The man on the boat who tried to chop you. Either an Igorot +or Ifugao. Item Two: Chahda checks out of the hotel and appears as a +Sikh guard at Lazada's."</p> + +<p>"You forgot Item Three," Scotty added. "Colonel Felix Rojas. Asked us +what good is hay to a dead horse, and knew we were having dinner at +Lazada's." He described the incident to Tony.</p> + +<p>"Item Four," Rick continued. "We find a prowler in your room. He had a +rifle cached in the walled city and waited around to use it on us. He +was either an Igorot or Ifugao." He spread his hands. "Do we need +anything more? Something is in the wind. But what?"</p> + +<p>"A golden skull," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But we don't have it. Does it make sense for anyone to try to +knock us off before we have it? Shucks, we don't even know where it is, +except that it's somewhere among the rice terraces."</p> + +<p>"Which is like saying that somewhere in the Mohave Desert is a buried +treasure," Scotty added.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti sighed. "I had heard a great deal about the penchant you +two have for mysteries and excitement. Now I believe everything I've +heard and more. I can't imagine any reason for all these happenings. +They simply don't make sense."</p> + +<p>"They do to someone," Rick said, and Scotty nodded agreement.</p> + +<p>Their waiter approached, an envelope in his hand. "Meester Brant? This +come while you outside. You take?"</p> + +<p>Rick took. "Must have arrived while Scotty and I were battling for the +boxing championship of the walled city." He tore it open.</p> + +<p>"Item Five," he said. "From Chahda. 'Can't come now. Meet you in Baguio. +Watch yourselves. Big danger from Ifugao no palate.'"</p> + +<p>Scotty held his head with both hands. "Great! How do we know whether or +not an Ifugao has no palate?"</p> + +<p>"Look down the throats of every one we see," Rick said wearily. "Or +maybe if an Ifugao has no palate he wears a sign to say so."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti rose. "That message makes no sense, either. And I make no +sense to myself. It's late. Come on to bed. Maybe everything will clear +up in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Go to bed or go nuts," Rick added. "The choice is easy. But let's bar +the windows. Just to keep the night air out."</p> + +<p>"Amen," Scotty said. "I think I'll break out my rifle and keep it by the +bed. Just in case some of that dangerous night air gets in."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>Manotok the Mighty</h3> + + +<p>At breakfast the next morning Rick and Scotty were subjected to an +amused scrutiny by Tony. He ticked off the items on his fingers.</p> + +<p>"Rick has a slight mouse under one eye, and his left arm seems a little +stiff. I noticed that he sat down gingerly, and that there is a very +pronounced bruise on the side of his jaw. Hands would indicate that he +has been playing with a rather rough cat, except that I happen to know +he was scrambling around in some cadena de amor.</p> + +<p>"Scotty is also wearing a mouse under one eye, perhaps a little more +prominent than Rick's. And he has a long scratch behind the left ear, +obviously caused by some sharp instrument."</p> + +<p>The archaeologist grinned. "If you do that to each other, what would you +do to an enemy?"</p> + +<p>The boys grinned back. "Can't tell you until we catch an enemy," Rick +replied. "Actually, most of my terrible wounds came from falling down."</p> + +<p>"Same here," Scotty agreed. "And that sharp instrument you mentioned was +the edge of a tin can."</p> + +<p>Tony spooned succulent orange-colored papaya melon with appreciation. +"Have either of you figured out what our Ifugao friend—let's assume +that he was an Ifugao—wanted in my room last night?"</p> + +<p>"The only answer I can think of is the obvious one," Rick answered. "He +probably thought we have a map or something showing the location of the +golden skull. He wanted it."</p> + +<p>"I accept the hypothesis only because I haven't a better one," Tony +said. "How about you, Scotty?"</p> + +<p>Scotty shrugged. "Can't buy it. But on the other hand, I don't have any +theory. Wish Sherlock Holmes were here."</p> + +<p>"We could use him," Briotti admitted. "Well, what's the program for +today?"</p> + +<p>"Off to Baguio," Rick replied. "But first, we'll have to rent or buy a +truck. The plane can't carry us plus our gear, and we'll need the truck +to take our stuff into the mountains. Scotty and I can do that. What are +your plans?"</p> + +<p>"There's an American anthropologist here I'd like to see. He's +internationally known. Name of J. Walter McGowan. I made a tentative +appointment yesterday. I'm sure he will have some information on the +Ifugaos that will be of interest. Probably Okola has included in his +papers on the subject everything McGowan knows, but I'd like to talk +with him just to get the feel of things, so to speak."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you do that this morning?" Rick suggested. "We'll get +the truck, load the gear, and get ready to take off."</p> + +<p>"Wonder where that Filipino Angel is?" Scotty asked. "Wasn't he supposed +to be here this morning?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think Okola specified a time," Tony replied. "And the morning +is still pretty young."</p> + +<p>That was true enough, Rick thought. Besides, he had the impression that +the Filipinos, although they followed Western customs, had the Far +Easterners' disregard of time.</p> + +<p>"If the Angel doesn't arrive, one of us will have to drive the truck to +Baguio," he said. "I had hoped he would take the truck, then we three +could fly."</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, with deceptive casualness, "Tony, what do you think of Dr. +Okola?"</p> + +<p>Tony answered promptly. "A first-rate scientist and a distinguished +gentleman besides. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Do you trust him?"</p> + +<p>"Implicitly. We're not dealing with a stranger here, Scotty. Okola's +name has been known to me since I first became interested in +archaeology. We have many mutual friends, and he has been very helpful +and courteous since this project was first proposed. Yes, I trust him."</p> + +<p>"That's good," Scotty said, "since we're buying the services of this +Angel purely on his say-so. We'll have to trust Angel. We have no +choice."</p> + +<p>"True. I'm prepared to trust him, simply because Okola said we could."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded agreement. "I'll take him on faith, too." He had learned not +to be overtrustful in far places among strangers, but he agreed with +Tony's estimate of Okola. The man, he believed, was just what he seemed +to be—a Filipino scientist and gentleman. He had liked Okola.</p> + +<p>"All right," Scotty said. "I'll go along. Okola seemed like a real +<i>compadre</i>. But how about Lazada? Do you trust him?"</p> + +<p>Tony considered. He finished his papaya, then tackled a mango salad, an +unusual but delicious breakfast dish. "I don't <i>dis</i>trust him," he said +finally. "That's negative, but the best I can do. He's not the type of +individual who appeals to me very much, but without further evidence I'd +hesitate to mark him untrustworthy."</p> + +<p>"I have a hunch," Rick said. "My hunch says that Mr. Lazada is crooked +as a helical coil. I wouldn't trust him anywhere, any time."</p> + +<p>Scotty agreed. "I would have said he's no straighter than the cutting +edge of a saw. And he's just about that sharp, too. Trouble with you is, +Tony, you're too civilized. You always see the best in everything, +including people."</p> + +<p>"Don't you?" Tony asked mildly.</p> + +<p>The boys chuckled. Of course they did, and Tony knew it. But on an +expedition like this, their suspicions came to the fore and they +automatically distrusted everyone. Lack of distrust had caused them much +trouble on other expeditions, and had come close to costing them their +lives.</p> + +<p>The headwaiter approached. "There is a man to see Dr. Briotti. Shall I +have him wait?"</p> + +<p>"That must be Okola's man," Tony said. "No, please bring him here."</p> + +<p>The three watched with interest as the headwaiter went to the door and +returned leading a short, dark man.</p> + +<p>Rick examined him with interest. At first glance the Filipino seemed +quite short, as so many of his race are. Then Rick's discerning eyes saw +the breadth of his shoulders. And he saw that the man wasn't really very +short; he only seemed to be because of his extraordinary shoulder width.</p> + +<p>The man was dressed simply but neatly in typical Filipino style with +white trousers and a white shirt. The shirt had no tail, but was cut +square at the bottom like a sport shirt. The collar was sport-shirt +style, too, worn open, and disclosed a muscular throat.</p> + +<p>The man bowed slightly. "Dr. Briotti?"</p> + +<p>"I am Briotti." He indicated the boys. "Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott. And +you?"</p> + +<p>"I am Angel Manotok, at your service. Dr. Okola said that you needed a +driver, guide, and general handyman. He said that he had recommended +me."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Please sit down. Will you have breakfast?"</p> + +<p>"Some coffee, perhaps. I have already had breakfast."</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok had a strong, square face. Rick thought that he looked +very much like an American Indian. His hair was thick and very black, +and freshly cut into a sort of crew cut.</p> + +<p>"You will want to see my papers," Angel said.</p> + +<p>He produced a wallet and extracted several documents. The Spindrifters +examined them. There was a Philippine driver's license, a United States +Army driver's license indicating that the bearer was qualified to drive +military vehicles, an honorable discharge from the Philippine Scouts, +which had been a part of the United States Army, and a certificate from +the Philippine Public Health Service certifying that Angel Manotok, as +of three weeks ago, had been X-rayed and found free of tuberculosis.</p> + +<p>"So you were in the Philippine Scouts," Scotty remarked.</p> + +<p>Angel grinned, showing strong white teeth. "I have been many things, +including a scout. I have also been a lumberjack in Zambales Province, a +gold miner in Baguio, and a farmer in Mindanao."</p> + +<p>"You speak remarkably good English," Tony commented.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir. You will notice from my discharge that I was a sergeant +in the Philippine Scouts. I had the advantage of American military +schools. I also attended college—the Ateneo de Manila, which has +American Jesuit priests as teachers. I did not graduate, unfortunately, +but I did learn your language rather better than most Filipinos."</p> + +<p>Rick liked Angel at once. He nodded at Tony and Scotty, and they nodded +back. Tony at once began discussing salary and general arrangements with +Angel.</p> + +<p>When they had reached an agreement, Angel grinned. "Now I can tell you. +Since Dr. Okola was very anxious for me to go, I was prepared to work +for you just for food. But a salary is much better."</p> + +<p>"Much," Tony agreed. "We prefer it that way, too, although I appreciate +your loyalty to Dr. Okola."</p> + +<p>"Where is your baggage?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"I left it outside at the desk. I haven't much to carry along. Just work +clothes and a few tools."</p> + +<p>"Where can we get a truck?" Scotty inquired.</p> + +<p>"What kind would you like?"</p> + +<p>Rick answered. "An Army six-by-six, if possible."</p> + +<p>"That can be done. Rent or buy?"</p> + +<p>"Which do you suggest?"</p> + +<p>"Rent. Let me do it for you. I can bargain much better than you can."</p> + +<p>"Fine," Rick agreed. "We'll go with you and watch."</p> + +<p>Angel shook his head. "Better not. If the dealer knows the truck is for +Americans, the price will go up. If he thinks it is for a Filipino, the +price will be low. Let me get a truck—I'll be sure it's a good one—and +meet you here."</p> + +<p>Rick considered. "No, let's make another plan. I want to spend a little +more time checking my plane. Suppose you get the truck, then meet us at +Hangar 18 at the airport. We can come back here and load after lunch. +Then we can fly to Baguio while you follow with the truck."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever driven to Baguio?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Many times. It takes between six and seven hours, depending on the +traffic. Some parts of the road aren't very good, and traffic piles up."</p> + +<p>"Then if you leave at noon, you should be in Baguio at dinnertime."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Shall I go now? I will need a hundred pesos. That is for a deposit +on the truck."</p> + +<p>Tony opened his billfold. "Let's see. That's fifty dollars. Is American +money all right?"</p> + +<p>Angel smiled. "American money is always all right, everywhere. I will +get a truck and then come to the airport. Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. And glad to have you with us," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Scotty and Tony echoed his remark and they shook hands all around. Angel +tucked the pesos into his wallet and hurried out.</p> + +<p>"Good deal," Scotty said. "He's a lot of man. Notice those shoulders? +And his hands show he's used to work. I like him."</p> + +<p>Rick and Tony did, too, and said so. "I feel better about him going off +alone with our stuff," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Except for the SS," Scotty added, referring to the earth scanner. "You +heard what he said about the road to Baguio? That's a delicate gadget +and we don't want it banged around too much."</p> + +<p>"You've got a point," Rick agreed. "Suppose we take it with us in the +plane?"</p> + +<p>"Good idea." Scotty rose. "Tony, we'll go on to the airport and meet you +here about eleven thirty. Okay?"</p> + +<p>"That will give me plenty of time." The scientist hesitated. "I know +you'll take care of yourselves. Remember that we have a sniper after us. +Not to mention an Ifugao with no palate. Incidentally, I suspect that +our friend Angel has a little Igorot or Ifugao blood. Did you notice +that he resembles the American Indian?"</p> + +<p>"I did," Rick said. "Would it be unusual for him to have Igorot blood?"</p> + +<p>"Not particularly. There is some intermarriage of Christian Filipinos +with the pagans. Also, Angel may have some Chinese blood, which would +account for the unusually high cheekbones and rather flat face. He +doesn't have the Mongoloid eye fold which gives the appearance of slant +eyes, but that means nothing. Many Filipinos with Chinese blood lack +it."</p> + +<p>"What are the Filipinos, anyway?" Scotty asked as they walked to the +door.</p> + +<p>"Originally, the Filipinos were of almost pure Malay blood. But there +was much intermarriage with the Chinese and the Spanish, and now, +particularly around Manila, <i>mestizos</i>, which is what persons of mixed +race are called, are very common."</p> + +<p>Tony hailed a taxi at the door and the boys went to their room. Rick had +put a thread across the bottom of the casement window. It was not +disturbed, nor was the chair he had carefully placed so that anyone +coming through the door would move it slightly. There had been no +prowlers while they were at breakfast.</p> + +<p>The boys opened the case containing the earth scanner and lifted out the +leather carrying cases which contained the electronic controls and +amplifiers and the delicate scanning tube. They carried the cases down +to the lobby and took a cab to the airport.</p> + +<p>The ride was pleasant, since the way to the airport was along Dewey +Boulevard, which edged Manila Bay. Far across the bay they could see the +American Naval Station at Cavite. And to the north was Mariveles +Mountain on Bataan Peninsula.</p> + +<p>Here and there the sail of a banca dotted the brown water. In the +bancas—outrigger canoes—were fishermen. A large part of the Filipino +diet was fish.</p> + +<p>The highway branched away from the bay finally, and a short time later +they arrived at the modern airport, once the American Air Corps base of +Nichols Field.</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon was as they had left it, apparently undisturbed. But they +were not taking anything for granted. Rick and Scotty checked the plane +over literally inch by inch, searching for signs of tampering.</p> + +<p>As Rick examined the landing struts, a shadow fell across the doorway. +He looked up to see an American watching him.</p> + +<p>The American stepped forward. He was of medium height, with close +cropped sandy hair. He wore a yellow T shirt under a white linen coat. +His trousers were gray rayon, and his footgear was openwork sandals. He +looked comfortable and cool, even in the broiling Philippine sun. Rick +judged him to be about forty years old.</p> + +<p>"Mind if I look?" the man asked.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Rick answered politely. He hesitated, then introduced +himself and Scotty, who had come around from the other side of the +plane.</p> + +<p>"My name is Nast. James Nast. You must be two of the scientific party I +read about in the Manila <i>Bulletin</i>."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know anything about us had been in the papers," Rick replied.</p> + +<p>"This morning," Nast said. He took a tabloid-size paper from his pocket, +unfolded it to the item, and handed it to them.</p> + +<p>The item was brief. It merely stated that a party headed by Dr. Anthony +Briotti, with Mr. Richard Brant and Mr. Donald Scott, had been +entertained by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior at dinner prior +to their departure to Mountain Province to search for primitive +artifacts. Dr. Okola, of the University of the Philippines, local +adviser to the American party, also had attended the dinner.</p> + +<p>"Lazada must have given that to the press," Rick remarked.</p> + +<p>"Probably," Nast agreed. "Filipino politicos are like our own. They live +on publicity. Please don't let me intrude. I came to the airport to meet +a shipment from Hong Kong, but the plane is late, so I've been wandering +around sightseeing."</p> + +<p>"Are you in business?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Import-export. I import Chinese silver, both alloyed and pure, and +have it fabricated by Filipinos. Mostly into filigree work. Then I +export it to America. I also import Siamese and Indo-Chinese silks which +are made into all sorts of things and then exported to America. I was +expecting a silk shipment this morning. My agent in Hong Kong gets it +from Siam and Indo-China, and forwards it."</p> + +<p>"Been out here long?" Rick inquired.</p> + +<p>"Since the war. I first came here when I was in the Navy. Liked it so +well I took my discharge here and stayed. Going to be in Manila long?"</p> + +<p>"Just a few hours." Rick wiped sweat from his face. "We're going to +Baguio."</p> + +<p>"So am I. Perhaps I'll see you there."</p> + +<p>"Really? What's Baguio like?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty of local color. And the weather is great. It's high in the +mountains and very cool. You'll sleep under blankets tonight, and so +will I." Nast wiped his face, too. "This shipment goes by truck to +Baguio, and I'm going to ride along with it." He wiped his face again.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you take your coat off?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Nast grinned. "Because I've got a .38 automatic in a shoulder holster."</p> + +<p>The boys stiffened. Rick and Scotty exchanged glances.</p> + +<p>"The road to Baguio isn't the safest in the world," Nast explained. +"It's fairly peaceful now, but bandits still operate up through Pampanga +Province. I carry a gun to discourage interest in my shipments."</p> + +<p>Now that he had mentioned it, Rick could see the bulge of the shoulder +holster. But it was a good job of tailoring and he realized that the +linen jacket had been made to conceal the shoulder gun.</p> + +<p>"The plane from Hong Kong won't be in for at least a half hour," Nast +said. "Mind if I stick around? It's a pleasure to talk to Americans. I +deal mostly with Filipinos out in the <i>barrios</i>, the small towns where +my fabricating is done, and I don't see Americans very often."</p> + +<p>"Glad to have you, if you don't mind our going ahead with our work," +Rick told him.</p> + +<p>"Don't let me get in the way. Go right ahead."</p> + +<p>The boys did so, and Rick explained the fine points of the Sky Wagon to +Nast while he worked to check every possible point of sabotage. He liked +talking about the plane. It was something to be proud of. And Nast was +an interested listener who apparently knew something about planes.</p> + +<p>After the check up, they rolled the plane outside and Rick warmed up the +engine. Then, while he was testing the radio, Angel Manotok arrived with +a truck. Rick immediately shut the engine off and got out, curious to +see what Angel had found. Scotty was already looking it over, with Nast +an interested spectator. Rick introduced him to Angel, then asked:</p> + +<p>"Is it in good condition?"</p> + +<p>"Very good. The man said it had been overhauled recently, and I believe +him. The tires are in good condition and there are two spares."</p> + +<p>The truck was a typical Army vehicle with double rear wheels, both front +and rear drive, and a winch on the front. The motor purred sweetly. +Angel had apparently done well.</p> + +<p>Nast asked, "Going to use both the truck and the plane? Or will you +leave the plane at Baguio?"</p> + +<p>"We're not sure," Rick said. "Depends on whether we find a landing place +at Bontoc. Have you been there?"</p> + +<p>"A few times. There are no decent fields. But you could land on the +road. It's black top, and there are few power lines or phone lines. I +think you can do it."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear that," Rick said, relieved. To Scotty and Angel he said, +"We can go on back to the hotel and load the truck. We'll have to check +the plane engine before take-off, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Think the plane will be safe?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Sure. We'll put it in the hangar and lock the door. I notice the +airport guards go by pretty often, and besides, the plane has been all +right so far."</p> + +<p>"I guess you're right," Scotty agreed. "But let's put the alarm out, +anyway."</p> + +<p>The alarm was a very loud horn wired into a circuit which caused it to +go off if the plane was so much as touched. Rick set it, then locked the +door of the plane. Removing the key from the lock activated the circuit. +Then they closed and locked the hangar door. The plane would be all +right.</p> + +<p>Nast was talking to Angel Manotok in Tagalog. Angel was replying, but +not very enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>Rick spoke up. "You speak the local language pretty well, Mr. Nast."</p> + +<p>"Have to," Nast said cheerfully. "The Filipino families that work for me +can't speak English, often as not. Well, good hunting. Perhaps we'll +meet in Baguio."</p> + +<p>The boys shook hands. "Good luck to you. Hope your shipment arrives."</p> + +<p>"It will. The planes from Hong Kong are often late. The airport there is +closed in half the time from fog. Good luck."</p> + +<p>The boys got into the truck with Angel and he drove out to the main +highway.</p> + +<p>"What were you and Nast talking about?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Angel took his time about answering. "He just wanted to know when we +were going to Baguio. I think he was making small talk. Maybe he wanted +to show off his Tagalog."</p> + +<p>"Was his Tagalog good?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Very good."</p> + +<p>Angel said no more, and Rick wondered for a moment. What had Nast really +said? He decided that it wasn't of any importance. Perhaps Nast was one +of those Americans who always talk to people of other lands in a +half-insulting way. Rick had met them—and mighty poor advertisements +for America they were.</p> + +<p>They parked the truck behind the hotel and took Angel to their room. +"We'll get help and have the crates carried down for you." Rick said.</p> + +<p>Angel grinned. "Why bother? You two take one and I'll take the other."</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other. True, the crates weren't huge, but each +was a hefty load for two men.</p> + +<p>"Stop bragging," Scotty said. The jocular tone of his voice made a +playful challenge of the words.</p> + +<p>Angel took the challenge. He went to the largest crate, swung it easily +to his head, and balanced it with one hand. "Let's go," he said, +grinning.</p> + +<p>Scotty stepped forward, blood in his eye, and tackled the second crate. +He got it up, but it was obvious that it was too much of a load even for +his above-normal strength. Rick lent a hand and they carried the crate +along behind Angel, who walked as though he had a feather pillow +balanced on his head.</p> + +<p>"Manotok the Mighty," Scotty said, and there was genuine awe in his +voice.</p> + +<p>Angel pronounced his name in the Spanish style, <i>Ahng-hel</i>, but now he +shifted to the English pronunciation and said, "I'm an angel, and my +strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure."</p> + +<p>The boys laughed. "That was first applied to Galahad, wasn't it?" Rick +asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't know," Angel replied. "But I like it, anyway."</p> + +<p>The crates took up little room in the truck. Angel lashed them in, then +the three went to the main dining room to meet Tony. They had time for a +glass of limeade before the scientist showed up. He came to the table +and asked, "Do you know a man by the name of Nast?"</p> + +<p>Rick's eyebrows went up. "Yes. Met him this morning. Why?"</p> + +<p>"He left a phone message at the desk. Wants you to call him."</p> + +<p>Rick rose and went to the lobby, puzzled. What could Nast want? He got +the number Nast had left. It turned out to be the freight office at the +airport. Then there was a wait while the man was paged. At last he came +to the phone.</p> + +<p>"Brant?... Nast here. Look, I'm terribly sorry to impose on such short +acquaintance, but I want to ask a favor. My shipment came in, but now I +can't get a truck. The one I usually ship on has a regular run, and the +driver took off for Baguio without checking. So I'm stranded. If you +haven't too much of a load, could I ride along with your Filipino +driver? My shipment weighs only two hundred pounds."</p> + +<p>Rick considered. Nothing in the truck would be in any danger. The earth +scanner was safely stowed in the luggage compartment of the plane.</p> + +<p>Nast added, "I'll be glad to pay for the trip. It will save me waiting +over until tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"No need," Rick said. "We'll be glad to accommodate you. Meet you at the +hangar in an hour." He hung up, very thoughtful. Why should his +instincts rebel against doing Nast such a small favor? Again he told +himself that no harm could come of it. Even if Nast were finger-man for +a bandit gang he would get nothing except clothes and ordinary, easily +replaced tools. And it was ridiculous to imagine the American as any +such thing. True, he was not an educated man, but that meant less than +nothing. Education, as such, has little to do with honesty. No, Nast was +just an American sailor who had decided to stay in the tropics, and +apparently was making a go of it in a business way.</p> + +<p>"Let him ride," Rick thought. "It will be okay. He can't do any damage, +I guess...."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>Chahda Checks In</h3> + + +<p>Rick had expected the flight to Baguio to be a snap, but as it turned +out, he had to call for help. Angel Manotok carried the three +Spindrifters to the airport in the truck, Rick and Scotty riding behind, +then Angel departed for Baguio with Nast and his bundle of silks.</p> + +<p>Rick checked in at the Philippine Aeronautics Commission, seeking +information on the airport at Baguio. He took one look at the approach +pattern and gulped. The approach was between high mountains, down a +valley, and then up a mountainside. What made it worse was that one +mountain looked much like another on the topographical map.</p> + +<p>He exclaimed, "Boy! That's a rugged landing field to find!"</p> + +<p>The Filipino official smiled. "You have maybe Navy flying experience?"</p> + +<p>"No. Why?"</p> + +<p>"Best experience for landing at Baguio is making landings on aircraft +carrier."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," Rick said. "Any advice?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Go to Philippine Air Lines. Talk to flight dispatcher. PAL flight +leaves here maybe two hours. Just right for you. Fly to rendezvous. +Pretty soon along comes PAL flight and you follow in."</p> + +<p>The advice was good, Rick realized. He could not do better than follow a +regular air-line flight into the field. He did as directed, met the +pilot of the next Baguio flight, a former Filipino pilot in the United +States Air Force, and was told the approximate time the PAL flight would +pass the Kennon Road horseshoe curve for the Baguio approach.</p> + +<p>"Follow the Kennon Road," the pilot advised. "Pick me up when I go over +the curve. You can't mistake the place. Nothing else like it."</p> + +<p>While Rick made arrangements, Tony and Scotty loaded their personal +suitcases into the luggage compartment with the earth scanner. Scotty +started the engine and checked the plane, so that it was warm when Rick +arrived. They took off at once and headed north across the great central +plain of Luzon.</p> + +<p>The landscape below was flat, cut up by creeks and estuaries. It was +perfect rice country. Later they passed Mount Arayat, once the hide-out +of the Hukbalahap—the lawless forces that had been such a threat to +Philippine stability. Ahead of them rose the mountains of northern +Luzon. Within those mountains they would find Baguio and Mountain +Province.</p> + +<p>Rick picked up the Kennon Road without trouble as it wound its way +through the foothills. Staying high, he followed it until he reached a +great switchback curve. A car following that road would literally double +back on itself, he thought. He glanced at his watch. The PAL plane would +be along in about two minutes. The pilot had estimated Rick's flying +time perfectly. Rick climbed, then circled until Scotty saw the +twin-engine transport approaching.</p> + +<p>The PAL pilot waggled his wings, and Rick followed as the air liner +throttled down, swung between mountain peaks, and threaded its way down +a wide valley. Rick gulped. A good thing he had had the experienced +pilot to follow. He would never have found the way alone. The peaks were +completely confusing to someone who had never seen them before.</p> + +<p>The air liner turned suddenly and Rick's heart leaped into his throat. +He thought the PAL plane was flying right into the mountainside. But +such was not the case. The plane settled down on a landing strip that +had been hewn from a mountaintop. It was obvious what the PAL official +had meant when he joked about carrier landings.</p> + +<p>Rick followed the PAL plane in, and had to fight down his instinctive +feeling to gain altitude when he saw the mountainside rushing at him. He +nearly over-shot the landing strip. But then the Sky Wagon was down, and +he taxied toward the control station.</p> + +<p>Scotty wiped his brow. "Some field!"</p> + +<p>"Next time will be okay," Rick replied. "But this time I aged ten +years."</p> + +<p>The Filipino pilot walked to meet them, grinning. "How do you like +Baguio airport?"</p> + +<p>"I've landed on fields I liked better," Rick replied. "Thanks for +leading us in."</p> + +<p>"You're welcome. I remember my first landing. Couldn't fly again for a +week. All I could think of was spreading my passengers all over the +hillside. But only the first time is hard. We fly in and out of here +several times a day, and we've never had a serious accident."</p> + +<p>"Your air line doesn't go in for accidents," Tony Briotti said. "You +have a remarkable safety record."</p> + +<p>"We do our best," the pilot said. "Going into town? I am. I have a car +behind the control shack. Be glad to give you a lift."</p> + +<p>"Thanks a million," Rick answered. "First I have to make arrangements +for my plane."</p> + +<p>The pilot grinned. "None to make. No hangars, no service except gas. +Just stake it down and lock the door. It will be all right."</p> + +<p>It had to be all right. There was nothing else to do. The Spindrifters +took the earth scanner and their personal luggage, then locked the +plane, leaving the alarm activated. As an afterthought, Rick left a +duplicate key with the Filipino field official. Someone might touch it +casually and set the alarm off, and it would sound until the door was +unlocked and relocked again with the key. He explained how it worked and +then joined the pilot and his friends in the official air-line car.</p> + +<p>The pilot dropped them at Muller's, a combination boardinghouse and +old-fashioned inn. They checked in, then climbed a nearby hill for a +view of Baguio.</p> + +<p>As far as the eye could see, there were mountains. Steep ridges and deep +clefts made a picturesque jumble of the landscape. Beyond, over the +ridge, was the Trinidad Valley, a farm garden area where the American +colony of the Philippines got most of its temperate zone vegetables and +fruit. On the other side of town was the Golden Bowl of Benguet, where +fabulous gold mines were worked by Igorot miners clad only in +breechcloths and hard-rock helmets.</p> + +<p>Baguio itself was a modern city in most respects. But the population—a +strange mixture of Christian Filipinos and primitive, pagan Igorots—was +unusual. The Filipinos wore typical Western dress, and actually dressed +pretty warmly. The Igorot men wore the breechcloth, perhaps with a shirt +or sweater, perhaps with nothing at all. Most of the men had tiny +pillbox caps of woven straw on the backs of their heads. The little +round boxes were decorated with such oddments as boar's tusks and coke +bottle caps. The Igorot women wore a tight-fitting skirt of colorful +wool, usually patterned in red or yellow. They wore blouses of +embroidered white cotton, or jackets of colored wool. Their skirts had +balls of yarn on the hips. The women wore no hats. Both sexes were +usually barefoot.</p> + +<p>There were contrasts. For example, next to a great Christian cathedral +was the Igorot dog market. The Igorots were eaters of dog meat.</p> + +<p>But it was not the Igorots or the mountains that had made Baguio famous +and turned it into the summer capital of the Philippines—it was the +climate. While Manila burned in the tropical sun, Baguio, thousands of +feet higher, had cool, fall-like weather. There was hardly a night +during the year when blankets were not comfortable. Even the foliage was +temperate rather than tropical. Baguio had pine trees, a welcome sight +to the Spindrift trio.</p> + +<p>There was a tall, fragrant pine just outside the window of the room +shared by Rick and Scotty. When the boys returned to their rooms to wash +up for an early dinner, Rick leaned out and broke off a pine cone. Then, +by reaching only a bit further, he grabbed a cluster of purple-red +blossoms from a bougainvillea vine that had climbed the tree to their +second-floor height.</p> + +<p>In the comfortable dining room, they chose a table in front of a roaring +fireplace, glad of the warmth. It was chilly in Baguio. While they +waited to be served, Rick mentioned the pine tree to Tony and commented +that it was odd that a tree should be left so close to a building.</p> + +<p>"The forest practices of the Igorots and Ifugaos could well be copied by +us," Tony told the boys. "Anyone who cuts down a tree for anything other +than genuine use is severely punished. In the old days the punishment +might have been loss of his head. That's how much respect they have for +their water supply, which is dependent directly on their forests."</p> + +<p>"You talk as though these were civilized people," Scotty commented.</p> + +<p>Tony grinned. "Depends on what you call civilization. But they have a +very highly developed and complex culture. They have a history, too, +which they know better than we know ours. For instance, an Ifugao can +recite his ancestry as far back as twenty-five generations. Can you?"</p> + +<p>"Not sure I'd want to," Scotty retorted. "Might be a few horse thieves +along the way. Seriously, I see what you mean."</p> + +<p>"Their priests must know all about fifteen hundred different gods and +all the legends and taboos connected with each. No written books to +consult, either. All must be memorized."</p> + +<p>"That certainly proves that they have good memories," Rick said. "I'm +not sure what else it proves."</p> + +<p>"Wait until you see the rice terraces. Now let's order dinner. This cool +air has whetted my appetite like a razor's edge."</p> + +<p>After a delicious meal of broiled steak, fresh vegetables from Trinidad +Valley, and the huge strawberries for which the valley is famous, the +three lingered over coffee and Tony recited more details of the Igorot +and Ifugao way of life, so different from their own. In the midst of the +recital Angel Manotok arrived.</p> + +<p>"Good trip?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. No trouble. The truck is a beauty. What do you want me to do now?"</p> + +<p>Rick handed him the keys to their room. "You're pretty dusty. Wash up, +eat, then go to the airport. You'll find a spare bedroll in the crate +you carried by yourself back at the Manila Hotel. Keep an eye on the +plane, and we'll join you at breakfast time."</p> + +<p>Although there was no reason to suspect that anyone would harm the +plane, none of them felt comfortable about leaving it unguarded. They +were sure it would be safe during the daylight hours, but darkness +afforded an opportunity for sabotage.</p> + +<p>Angel took the keys and went on his way. In a short time he returned, +gave the keys back to Rick, and said, "I'll get supper at a Filipino +place. See you in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Businesslike," Tony said approvingly. "No waste words or motion. I +think we were lucky to get him."</p> + +<p>The boys agreed. "Wonder how he and Nast got along?" Rick queried. "I +forgot to ask him."</p> + +<p>"He probably dropped off Nast and his silks before he came here," Scotty +commented.</p> + +<p>At Tony's suggestion they walked around town, taking in the interesting +marketplace, the several cathedrals, the summer palace of the +Philippines president, and the parks. Baguio was different—and very +peaceful and pleasant. As they walked, they discussed their plans for +the next day.</p> + +<p>Rick and Tony were to fly to Bontoc, which was still in Igorot country, +then cross the mountain to Banaue, which was the objective of the trip, +land of the Ifugaos and home of the fabled rice terraces. It was to be a +non-stop trip, mostly to familiarize Rick with the terrain. At the same +time, Scotty and Angel were to go by truck to Bontoc, several hours' +drive to the north. They would remain overnight. If Scotty could arrange +a landing place for the Sky Wagon, he would phone Rick at Muller's. Then +Rick and Tony would fly up the next morning. Scotty was a pilot himself, +so he knew the requirements for a good landing strip.</p> + +<p>If no suitable landing place were available, Rick and Tony would hire a +jeep and drive to Bontoc. Jeeps were common in the Philippines, since +they were ideal vehicles for the back country. Hiring one would present +no problems.</p> + +<p>With no landing place available, the Sky Wagon would not come into use +until the expedition found artifacts of value. Then Rick would return to +Baguio, get the plane, pick up the discoveries by cable, and deliver the +stuff to Okola in Manila for safekeeping and preliminary examination.</p> + +<p>The exercise and the cool freshness of the air made them sleepy, and +presently, by mutual consent, they returned to Muller's.</p> + +<p>"Might as well get to bed early," Tony said. "Then we can be up at dawn +and get off to an early start. Good night, boys."</p> + +<p>The boys bade him good night and went to their own room, a few doors +down the hall. Scotty unlocked the door and swung it open, then let out +a yell of joy. Chahda was sprawled on one of the beds, reading a +magazine!</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy was dressed in Western clothes, slacks and a sports +jacket.</p> + +<p>He looked up as the door opened. "Hi," he said casually. "Nice walk?"</p> + +<p>It was as though they had left him reading while they went for a stroll. +Chahda's casualness was too much for Rick and Scotty. They dove for him, +hauled him out of the bed, and pummeled him with sheer delight. Finally +Chahda yelled for mercy.</p> + +<p>"I give in! Plenty okay! I glad to see you, too. Please do not break +leg, may need it."</p> + +<p>"You no-good swami," Scotty said. "What's the idea of playing Sikh?"</p> + +<p>The boys sat down on the bed opposite Chahda.</p> + +<p>"Talk," Rick commanded. "What kind of gag is this?"</p> + +<p>"Best way to learn about people is to be one of them," Chahda said with +dignity. "I have been Filipino and Sikh. Now I become Igorot. First I +learned about this new country from Alm-in-ack. Says this largest group +in Malay Archipelago. What is archipelago, please?"</p> + +<p>Rick saw the twinkle in Chahda's eye and knew that their friend was +following his usual custom of teasing them. "Archy Pelago is the black +sheep of the Pelago family," he said. "Archy first fell from grace when +he got into a fight with neighbors. It was a real melee. Hence his +nickname. Melee Archy Pelago...."</p> + +<p>A pillow caught him in the face, smothering his words. Scotty pushed him +over on the bed and sat on him.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Chahda. I'm so curious I could spring a seam. What's going +on?"</p> + +<p>Rick squirmed, got nowhere, and finally sank his teeth into Scotty hard +enough to get results. Scotty let out a yell that could have been heard +in Singapore.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti pounded on the door and called, "How do you expect the +paying guests to sleep with that racket going on?"</p> + +<p>The boys let him in and introduced Chahda. Tony shook hands with the +Hindu boy. "I was beginning to believe you were a figment of the +well-known Spindrift imagination. It's a pleasure to meet you."</p> + +<p>"Likewise am honored to meet brilliant young scientist," Chahda said +politely. "My worthless friends tell me they even call you by nickname, +while other scientists are called by title. This is mark of high esteem, +I think. Glad to meet you, <i>Sahib</i> Tony."</p> + +<p>"Chahda was just going to give us the low-down," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"That what the yelling was about?" Tony asked.</p> + +<p>"Scotty yelled," Rick said. "Mosquito bit him."</p> + +<p>"That mosquito is going to get swatted when he least expects it," Scotty +promised. "Come on, Chahda. Spin us a yarn."</p> + +<p>"Okay." Chahda sat cross-legged on Rick's bed. "You know I went to +Manila Hotel. For three days I waited. Then one day I sit next to famous +Assistant Secretary of Exterior."</p> + +<p>"Interior," Rick corrected. "Lazada."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Soon he is met by a friend who sits with him. This friend is not +known to me then. But I listen. I hear Lazada's friend say that soon +come Americans who will desec—What is ruin religious things, please?"</p> + +<p>"Desecrate," Tony supplied.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Do that to sacred Ifugao things. This friend begs Lazada not to +give permit."</p> + +<p>The three Spindrifters were sitting on the edges of the beds now, +concentrating on every word.</p> + +<p>"Friend says Americans will dig up rice terraces, looking for gold. +Sacred objects of gold will be carried away, and earth-cokes and drafts +will fall on Ifugao people."</p> + +<p>"Earthquakes and droughts," Rick corrected.</p> + +<p>"That is what I said," Chahda nodded. "Lazada objects that these are not +real gold things, and the friend says they are. Real gold. Much gold. +All very sacred. Again he begs Lazada not to allow this sacker-ledge."</p> + +<p>"Sacrilege."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Anyway, Lazada says Americans have much influence. He does not +know if he can stop them. But he will try. I do not believe he talks +truth. His looks do not make me trust him. You know?"</p> + +<p>The boys knew.</p> + +<p>"When friend leaves, I think I follow him. He starts out, then he meets +American on steps of hotel. I get close and listen. He says to American, +how you like to add gold to your smuggle into China?"</p> + +<p>Rick whistled. He had heard that smuggling gold from the Philippines +into China was big business.</p> + +<p>"American says plenty like. Where is gold? Lazada says we not talk here, +you come to my house tonight—no, tomorrow. Got big official dinner +tonight, and there is plenty time. Then I decide I must know more. So I +go to Number One Sikh in Manila and tell him he has new strong boy to be +guard at Lazada's, after I make sure Lazada has Sikh guards. This is +arranged. No trouble."</p> + +<p>Chahda always made it sound dramatic but easy, Rick thought. He doubted +that it was as simple as the Hindu boy made out.</p> + +<p>"American comes, and I am not able to hear much of talk. But I get +American's name. You know him. Since this morning."</p> + +<p>"Nast!" Rick exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Also comes to Lazada's house the Filipino friend, but he is not +Filipino. He is Ifugao. About him I do not know, except that he is +called No Palate. Or something like that. I would like to follow him, +but I think better I stay with Lazada. Good thing, too, because Nast +comes again, and this time I listen. Lazada tells Nast first to meet +you, so you will know and trust him. Then Nast is to get in touch with +No Palate. Lazada says he has told No Palate that he cannot keep permit +from you, but that American friend will help keep you from digging up +Ifugao sacred things."</p> + +<p>Chahda shrugged. "What am I to do? I stop being Sikh. My Number One Sikh +buddy-chum helps me meet Igorot who used to be scout for constabulary. +Name of Dog Meat. Fine name, huh? Dog Meat will help. I hire him. Need +helper named Dog Meat for sure." He grinned.</p> + +<p>The boys chuckled, and Tony explained, "That is actually a very +honorable name. Dog meat is a ceremonial meat among the Igorots."</p> + +<p>"Best reason I've heard for hiring anyone in a long time," Rick +commented.</p> + +<p>Chahda continued, "This morning I try to catch you at Manila, but reach +hotel too late, then reach airport too late. But I do some watching, and +I find out man with same describing as Nast has been visiting with you +at airport. You already gone. Nast already gone. Dog Meat and me, we +take next PAL plane to Baguio. When get here, there is your Sky Wagon. +At least I think it is yours, because it is like you told me in your +letter. So I come here, but not come directly to room, because I think +maybe better I stay undercover. So climb tree and come in window."</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy made a gesture of "all done." "Next time you see me, I be +Ifugao. Or maybe Igorot. Maybe even Kalinga." He named another related +pagan group. "Will decide when I see what is to be did. But already have +name." He smiled blandly. "Name myself for Scotty."</p> + +<p>Rick moved out of the line of fire.</p> + +<p>Chahda bowed. "Meet Cow Brain."</p> + +<p>Scotty reached for him. Tony and Rick ducked.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>Igorot Country</h3> + + +<p>Rick and Scotty awoke the next morning with a feeling of well-being. +After the heat of Manila the cool air of Baguio had caused them to sleep +like logs. Also, things appeared to be going well, and Chahda finally +had contacted them.</p> + +<p>The contact had been a brief one. Chahda had gone, promising to keep in +touch with them as best he could. The Hindu boy was on the trail of +James Nast, hoping that by keeping close watch he could anticipate, and +perhaps prevent, any action Nast might try to take against the Spindrift +party.</p> + +<p>"Dog Meat," Rick said, grinning, as the two knocked on Tony Briotti's +door. "It may be a fine old ceremonial name in this part of the world, +but to me it's just a meal for Dismal."</p> + +<p>Dismal was the Brant family pup. When Rick thought of the pagans eating +dog, he always thought of Dismal served up as a roast, and the thought +made him ill. He had decided that he might admire the fine qualities of +the Igorot and Ifugao people, but the mental image of Dismal among the +poor, beaten mongrels in the dog market would always keep him from being +really fond of them.</p> + +<p>Tony failed to answer the door. "Probably gone down to breakfast +already," Scotty said. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Chahda won't +have much trouble finding Nast. Baguio isn't very big and there aren't +very many Americans. Wonder what Nast will try to do?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "How can we guess? There are so many things about this +part of the world we don't know. He might have two dozen slick tricks up +his sleeve. The best thing we can do is be on guard all the time. I'm +glad we sent Angel out to guard the plane."</p> + +<p>As they passed the hotel desk, the clerk hailed them. "Mr. Brant? A +message for you."</p> + +<p>"Probably from Chahda," Rick said. But he was wrong. The note was from +Tony, and it made Rick's eyes widen. He read it aloud:</p> + +<p>"'Dear boys. Woke up at dawn with something nagging at me. It broke +through my thick skull while I was having coffee. The Ifugao No Palate +must be Nangolat. It's the name Okola mentioned—his prize student. I +know of no other Ifugao with even a less remote connection. Also, the +shape of Angel's face bothers me. I am going to the airport on a hunch. +Be back about eight, with Angel.'"</p> + +<p>Scotty pointed to a wall clock. It was nearly nine o'clock. They had +slept late.</p> + +<p>The two boys, without a word, ran for the door. Outside the hotel a +Filipino taxi waited. They jumped in and gasped in one voice: "Baguio +Airport!"</p> + +<p>"The chucklehead," Scotty groaned. "Why didn't he wake us up? Why did he +have to go alone?"</p> + +<p>"Relax," Rick said, but he didn't really mean it. "It was just an idea +he had that this Ifugao might be tied up with Angel. After all, Okola +recommended Angel." He recognized the fallacy in his argument as soon as +the words were out, but Scotty was already pointing to it.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Angel is Okola's boy, and so is this Nangolat. What's more likely +than their being close friends? Angel could be giving Nangolat a helping +hand."</p> + +<p>The taxi climbed the winding streets of Baguio, passed the American +military rest camp and the Baguio residence of the American ambassador, +and finally entered the airport.</p> + +<p>One quick look around the field showed them that the truck was missing. +The Sky Wagon was waiting by itself. On Rick's quick instructions the +taxi raced to the plane. They got out and took a quick look.</p> + +<p>"No sign of damage," Scotty said. "Let's ask at the airport office."</p> + +<p>The office was closed. It was operated by Philippine Air Lines, and was +only kept open during the day, starting one hour before the day's first +flight to Manila or from the big city. The first flight on this day was +not until ten thirty.</p> + +<p>A pair of workmen with shovels were scratching listlessly at the gravel +on the opposite side of the field. The boys jumped into the taxi and +told the driver to cross the field.</p> + +<p>Rick leaned out. "Did you see a truck?"</p> + +<p>The men smiled and nodded.</p> + +<p>"How long ago?" Rick called.</p> + +<p>The men smiled some more, then shrugged.</p> + +<p>The Filipino cab driver spoke to them in Ilokano, the Christian dialect +of the province. They answered briefly, smiled at the boys again, and +went back to scratching at the gravel. Apparently they were supposed to +be leveling the shoulders of the runway. If so, the shoulders would be +stooped with age before they were finished.</p> + +<p>The Filipino cab driver turned to the boys. "Sir, these men not see +truck. They be here since maybe two hours. No truck."</p> + +<p>"But they said they did!" Scotty exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Rick interrupted, "Ask them if they saw an American, alone."</p> + +<p>The driver exchanged quick syllables with the workmen. "They see +American. He get in sedan which waiting for him, and go off."</p> + +<p>"Who was in the sedan?"</p> + +<p>Again the driver translated. "They not see. It on other side of field. +Only know maybe three men, maybe American, maybe Filipino. They not +know."</p> + +<p>"Take us back to the hotel," Rick commanded. "And thanks for +interpreting for us."</p> + +<p>"They said they saw the truck," Scotty insisted.</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "Remember what Tony once told us. Never ask a +question that can be answered yes or no, or the answer will be yes +whether that's the answer or not. That's as true in the Philippines as +it is in China or anywhere else in the Orient. I don't think they saw +the truck, but I'm sure they did see Tony go off in a sedan. I'm +worried, Scotty."</p> + +<p>"Same. Of course the men in the sedan could just have offered Tony a +lift back to the hotel."</p> + +<p>"What were they doing at the airport? The sign on the office door said +the first flight from Manila was at ten thirty. No one uses the field +but PAL, a few travelers like us, and maybe military planes."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he just got a lift. But it's a possibility."</p> + +<p>"We'll soon know," Rick said. "Driver, please hurry."</p> + +<p>The Filipino grinned. "Sor, would like to please customer. But hurry on +these roads is break the necks, I think so."</p> + +<p>"He's right," Scotty agreed. "We'll get there soon enough."</p> + +<p>Within a few moments they were back at the hotel. Rick paid the driver +and thanked him for the help, then they ran in and confronted the clerk. +"Is Dr. Briotti back?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't seen him, gentlemen. Just a moment please." The clerk looked +in Tony's box. "His key is not here. Have you called his room?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet. Would you have seen him if he came in?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I've been doing some paper work, and unless he +came to the desk, I might not notice him."</p> + +<p>The boys nodded their thanks and hurried up the stairs to Tony's room. +They tried the door, then knocked loudly. There was no answer. They +knocked again, waited, then stared at each other bleakly.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Rick had a feeling that Tony was in danger. He didn't know +why he felt that way when the only news they had was that he had gone +off in a sedan with three men. The workmen hadn't said that he had +fought, or that he had been pulled into the car. He voiced his thoughts +as he followed Scotty to their room.</p> + +<p>"That means nothing," Scotty pointed out. "He probably wouldn't argue +with a gun pointing out the window at him. The workmen probably wouldn't +have noticed a pistol barrel."</p> + +<p>"You're right, as usual. Well, what now?"</p> + +<p>"Call the cops?"</p> + +<p>"What would we say? Tony hasn't been gone more than an hour or two, so +far as we know. That's not reason enough to call the cops. We couldn't +tell them about Chahda and what he said. They wouldn't believe any such +stories about their Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and if they +did, they'd probably be afraid to do much about it. If Tony doesn't show +up in another hour or two, we probably ought to call the police. But not +yet."</p> + +<p>Scotty had worn a jacket because the morning was cool. But now the room +was warm, and he went to the closet to hang it up.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Tony must have taken the earth scanner with him."</p> + +<p>Rick was in the act of sitting down on his bed. He bounced up like a +rubber ball. "What? He couldn't have!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's gone. And who else would have taken it?"</p> + +<p>"Tony didn't. He hasn't been in this room, except last night when Chahda +was here, and he didn't take the scanner then."</p> + +<p>Scotty snapped his fingers. "You gave Angel your key and told him to +clean up!"</p> + +<p>Rick slumped down on the bed again. That was it, of course. It had to +be. No one else had had the chance to get the equipment, barring the +possibility that the hotel personnel were dishonest, and there was no +reason to suspect them.</p> + +<p>"Then the equipment went with him last night. And we didn't notice until +now. But we would have noticed if it had been gone, wouldn't we? I've +been to the closet a dozen times and so have you."</p> + +<p>"Means nothing. I don't know why I noticed just now that the stuff was +gone. But there was nothing to call our attention to it last night or +this morning. Anyway, it was behind my big suitcase—I know. I knocked +the suitcase over when I closed the closet door this morning, and I +didn't stop to pick it up. It's still on its side. That's why I noticed +that the earth scanner wasn't there."</p> + +<p>"If we needed any proof that Angel is a bad one, probably in cahoots +with Nangolat, we have it. Scotty, what are we going to do?"</p> + +<p>"Call the cops," Scotty said grimly. "Now we have a theft to report." He +strode for the phone, but before he could pick it up there was a sharp +ring. Scotty answered. "Yes?" He listened, hung up hastily, and turned +to Rick.</p> + +<p>"The clerk says there's a Filipino in the lobby who wants to see us. +Says he knows us."</p> + +<p>"Chahda! It must be. He's posing as a pagan of some kind, and we don't +know any other Filipinos."</p> + +<p>Rick's thoughts were expressed as he and Scotty ran down the hall, then +took the stairs four at a time.</p> + +<p>"That's not Chahda!" Scotty pointed to a big Filipino who was striding +back and forth in front of the desk. The man was Scotty's size, and +built in about the same proportions. Around his head was what at first +glance appeared to be a kind of turban. At second glance the boys saw +that it was a thick bandage.</p> + +<p>The Filipino saw them and came toward them with quick strides. His face +probably was pleasant most of the time, but now it was grim, his mouth +creased in lines of pain.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Rick said. "And you...."</p> + +<p>"I am Angel Manotok!" the Filipino said.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>The Bontoc Road</h3> + + +<p>"Dr. Okola instructed me in what I was to do," the real Angel Manotok +said. "Nangolat was present. He was very helpful. He even gave me the +name of an Ifugao priest who would help us. A man by the name of +Poison."</p> + +<p>Angel didn't seem to think the name was odd, so Rick said nothing.</p> + +<p>"I live alone," Angel continued. "I went home that evening to pack my +stuff, so I would be ready to go to the hotel to meet you early in the +morning. Nangolat was waiting, and he had a gun. He made me turn around, +then he said, 'Angel, I am sorry. I only do this for the good of my +people, not for myself.' There was a great blow on the back of my head +and I knew nothing more. I woke up in the St. Luke Hospital. They said I +had a fractured skull, at first. But they were wrong."</p> + +<p>"Thank heavens," Rick said. "You were lucky."</p> + +<p>"So lucky," Angel agreed. "What I can never know is why Nangolat did not +take my head. Before, I thought he was very civilized and intelligent. +But when I saw him in my nipa hut, he was crazy. He did not talk crazy, +but he was. It was in his eyes. When I saw him and the gun in his hand, +and then I saw his eyes, I knew I was dead. But I did not know why, +because he was my friend."</p> + +<p>"Do you know why now?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"No. It does not matter. It only matters that he was my friend and he +gave me no chance. He did not fight me, although we are evenly matched. +He struck me from behind. I will go with you now to the Ifugao country, +and perhaps we will find this Nangolat. When I find him I will know what +to do."</p> + +<p>Angel's tone was not angry, nor did he sound as though he were +threatening. It was as though he had said that tomorrow it would rain. +But Rick and Scotty decided that they would not like to be in Nangolat's +shoes.</p> + +<p>"Did you tell Dr. Okola?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>For the first time, Angel's eyes fell. "No. I was ashamed to him."</p> + +<p>Rick recognized the odd phrase as a literal translation of a Spanish +idiom. He also understood why Angel had not told Okola. The Filipino +archaeologist had entrusted the Americans to Angel's care, and Nangolat +had taken his place. It didn't matter that Angel couldn't help it. He +had lost face. He would not return to Okola until he had made amends.</p> + +<p>"If your head was so badly hurt that the doctors thought your skull was +fractured, I'm surprised that they let you out of the hospital," Rick +said.</p> + +<p>"They did not let me. I walked out. Then I caught rides until I got into +Baguio a few minutes ago. If you had not been here, then I would have +followed you to Bontoc."</p> + +<p>Scotty asked, "Angel, what do you know of Mr. Irineo Lazada?"</p> + +<p>Angel spat. "He has power. He has many friends. All his friends are +thieves. Some are mighty thieves, but he is the greatest one of all. The +Secretary, who is his boss, is a fine man, and he will believe no evil +of this Lazada. No one will speak against him so the Secretary and +President can hear, because if such words are spoken, the body of the +speaker will be found floating down the Pasig next morning. This is +understood by all, and those who have proof are afraid. I have no proof, +or I would speak myself. To know is one thing. But to prove is another."</p> + +<p>"Do you know an American named Nast?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He is a smuggler. Again, there is no proof. Sometimes the ones who +smuggle for him are caught, but he is not, because he does no smuggling +himself."</p> + +<p>"What does he smuggle?" Rick asked. He was searching for some clue that +might be useful.</p> + +<p>"Anything. Chinese who cannot get visas to enter the Philippines. He +brings many of them up from Borneo. Crude rubber. Gems from Siam. He +used to run guns, but the supply ran out. They were American war surplus +guns, stolen by the truckload after the war and sold to smugglers like +Nast. Now there are no more."</p> + +<p>"What's Lazada's tie-up with Nast?"</p> + +<p>Angel shrugged. "This is gossip. Lazada has a yacht. Who would search +the private yacht of the great Assistant Secretary? Even though it was +well known that the yacht had been to Macao or Hong Kong and was loaded +with contraband?"</p> + +<p>Rick swiftly outlined the events of the morning to Angel. "We must find +Dr. Briotti," he concluded. "What do you suggest?"</p> + +<p>Angel thought it over, now and then raising a hand gingerly to his +bandaged head. "Everything Nast wants is in the Ifugao country, no? He +can only want the gold, and it is there. When Dr. Okola told me of this +golden skull you seek, I was afraid, for there are still many bad men in +the Philippines who want gold. Now Nast is after it. Maybe others. I do +not think Nangolat wants gold, but he is an Ifugao. Also, his interest +is in the Ifugao country. It can be nowhere else."</p> + +<p>Angel's English sometimes had a queer, rather formal phrasing, but it +was clear. And so, apparently, were his thoughts. Rick accepted his idea +about everything pointing to the Ifugao country.</p> + +<p>"Then we should go to Ifugao."</p> + +<p>"You have a plane. We should fly over the road to Bontoc and look for +the truck and the sedan with Dr. Briotti. If we see them, we can come +back to Baguio and telephone. The road to Bontoc is one way only. Only +one car at a time can travel."</p> + +<p>"One way?" Scotty inquired. "You can't mean that. How would people get +back and forth?"</p> + +<p>"I am not clear," Angel apologized. "What I mean is the road is too +narrow for cars going both ways. So the road has been divided in parts +by gates. Maybe a car is going to Bontoc. It arrives at Gate One. The +gatekeeper lets it through, then he calls Gate Two and says he has let a +car come north. Maybe another car is going from Bontoc to Baguio. He +reaches Gate Two, and the gatekeeper makes him wait until the car from +Gate One reaches him. Then he lets the car to Baguio go through and +calls the gatekeeper at Gate One and says a car is coming. Then he lets +the car going to Bontoc go through his gate and he calls Gate Three and +says that a car is coming."</p> + +<p>"I see," Scotty nodded. "One gate at a time. A car might be able to go +through three or four gates, and then have to wait for a car coming the +other way."</p> + +<p>"That is it. There are many gates. I forget exactly how many. Also, to +get from Bontoc to Banaue there is a road with gates."</p> + +<p>Banaue was in the Ifugao country, in the heart of the rice terraces. It +was their destination.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," Rick said.</p> + +<p>He had worked out a plan. The plane could scout the road quickly and +easily. By air it was only a short distance to Bontoc, but by road it +was several hours of driving because of the twists and turns. If they +could spot the truck or a sedan with four men in it, they could return +to Baguio and phone, and the vehicles could be held up at one of the +many gates.</p> + +<p>Scotty's thoughts were apparently the same, because Rick knew exactly +what he meant when he said, "The sedan will give us trouble. We'll just +have to hope that we can fly low when we see one, and try to catch a +look at the people in it."</p> + +<p>"That won't be very satisfactory," Rick said. "When we get to the +airport, we'll have Angel pump those workmen some more. If they're still +there. Like a pair of real meatheads, we forgot to ask for details, such +as what color the sedan was."</p> + +<p>They were fortunate. The workmen were still pecking away at the runway +shoulders. And they did recall the color of the sedan. It was dark +green. But they didn't know enough about cars to know the make, and they +had noticed no special details.</p> + +<p>"Have you flown before?" Rick asked Angel.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But not in such a little plane. Only the big PAL planes."</p> + +<p>The air-lines office was open now. Rick got his keys, arranged for +gasoline, and they moved the Sky Wagon into position. There was plenty +of gas for a short trip, but he was taking no chances. He wanted a full +tank.</p> + +<p>It took time to recheck the plane carefully, to make sure Nangolat had +not sabotaged it. Then, finally, they were on their way. Scotty had a +map spread across his knees and Angel had another. Scotty's map showed +topographical details like the height of mountains and their contours. +Angel had an excellent road map distributed by one of the American +gasoline companies that maintained service stations in many parts of the +islands.</p> + +<p>Angel watched the roads and Scotty the mountains, and they got on the +Bontoc Road with no trouble. Rick climbed until they could see for +miles. It was the only way to follow the tortuous route of the road as +it wound between mountains, hugged the side of high peaks, and dipped +into forested valleys.</p> + +<p>Now and then they could see an Igorot village far below, but this was +mostly uninhabited country. On Scotty's map, not so far away, were great +white patches marked with a single word: UNEXPLORED. It seemed +incredible that after nearly fifty years of American Government and a +few years of independence, the island of Luzon, seat of the capital, had +unexplored areas. But it was true.</p> + +<p>Rick knew that he need not watch the road carefully for a little while, +except to follow it. If the truck and sedan were headed for Bontoc and +Banaue they had a good start. He doubted that they were traveling +together.</p> + +<p>"You know," he said, "we're not so smart."</p> + +<p>"I've always known it," Scotty replied. "But what have we done that's +especially stupid?"</p> + +<p>"We could have phoned the first gate and asked if the truck and sedan +had passed through."</p> + +<p>Scotty groaned. "You are so right!"</p> + +<p>Angel spoke from the rear seat. "True, true! It is my fault. I am +ashamed to you that I did not think of it."</p> + +<p>Rick suspected that it hurt Angel to be so humble and admit that he was +ashamed. He looked like a proud man, one used to holding his head high.</p> + +<p>"We liked Nangolat," he said. "We thought he was Angel Manotok. He had +all your papers. We didn't doubt him because he looked like a fine man. +We were taken in, all right."</p> + +<p>Angel seemed to cheer up a little. "Yes? Then perhaps you understand how +it was easy for him to catch me and try to kill me when I also liked him +and thought he was my friend."</p> + +<p>"That's easy to understand," Scotty told the Filipino. "No one could +blame you, Angel."</p> + +<p>"You are good to say it," Angel replied. He seemed relieved.</p> + +<p>Rick knew that they had made a friend by expressing their understanding. +Before, Angel would have done his best because of Okola. Now, he +thought, Angel would do his best because he knew they were friendly and +understood how a man's pride can be hurt even when it is not his fault.</p> + +<p>"We'd better start keeping an eye peeled," Scotty advised.</p> + +<p>They flew in silence, inspecting the road below. There was almost no +traffic. Since leaving Trinidad Valley they had seen only the Bontoc +bus, a brilliant orange speck on the road below, and two jeeps. They had +identified the gates easily. Once they passed a gate where a south-bound +panel truck waited. Rick knew that the truck driver couldn't know what +kind of vehicle he waited for, but from the air it could be seen that +the Bontoc bus was the only moving thing between the two gates.</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon was just above the tops of a series of mountain peaks and +steep ridges. The road clung to the sides of the peaks like a dusty +brown ribbon. Rick turned up the heater a little because it was cold at +eight thousand feet.</p> + +<p>Then he lost the road. So did Angel and Scotty. Astonished, Rick +circled. He picked up the road again, followed it, lost it once more.</p> + +<p>"Where does it go?" he wondered.</p> + +<p>"Let's go see," Scotty suggested.</p> + +<p>Rick examined the terrain. Their quarry might be on the lost section of +the road. He had the choice of going down for a look, or finding where +the road emerged and circle for a while. He elected to go down.</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon lost altitude in a long slip toward the valley floor. Rick +and the others kept an eye on the point where the road vanished, and in +a few moments the mystery was solved. The road reached a cliff +approximately a mile long and a half mile high. The road was about two +thirds of the way up. To get past the cliff it had been necessary to cut +a shelf into the cliff itself.</p> + +<p>"Wow! Notching that cliff must have been some job!" Scotty exclaimed. +"No wonder we couldn't see the road from the air."</p> + +<p>Rick flew parallel to the cliff until he had to climb to get over a +ridge. Below, the road emerged from the overhang and was clearly visible +again. He gained altitude.</p> + +<p>"Just had a happy thought," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if the weather +closed in? Here we are flying visual contact through some of the +trickiest mountains I've ever seen. I'm going to keep an eye on the +compass. You two concentrate on the road. If we do get weather, I want +to be able to fly a reasonable course back to Baguio."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you get a weather briefing at the airport?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Such as it was. Mostly it was local Baguio conditions and a brief +report on Manila."</p> + +<p>"Something ahead," Angel called.</p> + +<p>"I see it," Scotty answered. "A truck of some kind. Take a look, Rick."</p> + +<p>Rick surveyed the landscape ahead, saw that he would not get into +difficulty by losing altitude, and went down for a look. He couldn't get +closer than a thousand feet, but that was ample. It was a load of +lumber, although the truck was much like theirs.</p> + +<p>"What color is it?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"Hard to tell. Ours was gray. This one looks brown."</p> + +<p>"Could be dust," Angel offered. "Dirt road below, plenty dusty. But +there are lumber mills up in this part of the province. Perhaps that is +just one of their trucks. You had no lumber, did you?"</p> + +<p>"No. Our truck had only two crates on it. Besides, Angel—I mean +Nangolat—must be far beyond this point. He left last night early."</p> + +<p>"How do you know?" Angel asked curiously.</p> + +<p>"Yeah," Scotty echoed. "You sound sure."</p> + +<p>"He got the scanner, didn't he? There was a risk that we might find out +that it was gone. He wouldn't hang around the airport knowing that we +might find out about the theft, would he?"</p> + +<p>"Good point," Scotty agreed.</p> + +<p>"I heard of this earth scanner," Angel said. "Dr. Okola told me. It +takes pictures of what is inside the ground, no?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly pictures," Scotty said. "It shows a kind of wave pattern. +You'll see how it works."</p> + +<p>Rick snorted. "Optimist. What makes you so sure?"</p> + +<p>"We'll get it back," Scotty said calmly. "No smart Ifugao is going to do +us in the eye, chum. Not without a fight. We'll find Tony and we'll find +the scanner. Then we'll clobber pal Nangolat—or let Angel do it—and +get to work."</p> + +<p>"What do we do with Nast?"</p> + +<p>"We get nasty with Nast."</p> + +<p>Rick groaned. "That pun, pal, is strictly cornball."</p> + +<p>"I've always wanted to be a pun pal," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>Far ahead, green shelves gave a regular pattern to the base of one +mountain. Rick pointed them out to Angel. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Igorot rice terraces."</p> + +<p>"Igorot? I thought the rice terraces were Ifugao."</p> + +<p>"The Igorots have them, too. They are not so—I don't have the word for +it. Big, make one open the eyes in wonder, very fine. The kind of thing +that makes you feel surprise here." Angel put his hand on his stomach.</p> + +<p>"Breath-taking?" Scotty suggested. "Spectacular?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Both. These Igorot terraces are nothing. Wait until you see the +terraces at Banaue."</p> + +<p>Three pairs of eyes scanned the road ahead. It was deserted.</p> + +<p>"Tell us about rice," Rick asked. "There was rice below when we flew to +Baguio, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes. A great deal of rice. You passed over Pampanga Province, which is +called the rice bowl of the Philippines. That rice is grown in paddies, +which are fields with little earth walls around them called dikes. The +paddies can be flooded. Rice needs much water. Down there, though, the +land is flat."</p> + +<p>Scotty pointed to a razorback ridge. "This land sure isn't flat."</p> + +<p>"No, but the Igorot and Ifugao workers make it flat by building +terraces. Each terrace is like a little paddy. It can be flooded, just +as the lowland paddies are. The water comes from the mountains in pipes +made of bamboo."</p> + +<p>"It must be quite a water system," Rick observed.</p> + +<p>"Yes. There are miles of bamboo pipes, but no water is wasted. The water +is put into the upper terraces, then it runs by itself through openings +down to the lower terraces."</p> + +<p>"Is the rice the same?"</p> + +<p>"Nearly. There is another kind called highland rice that is planted like +wheat. We have a little wheat, too, but not enough to feed many people. +The highland rice is not very good. Paddy rice is better."</p> + +<p>Rick was interested. He continued his questioning. "Are the paddies +flooded all the time?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. They are flooded before the rice is planted. You know we do not +plant seed in the paddies? We plant baby rice plants which are grown in +special places. The little plants are pushed into the mud after the +paddy is flooded. Then the water is left for a while. But if we left it +all the time, the plants would rot. So after a while we let the water +out and only let in enough to keep the rice growing."</p> + +<p>They were over the terraces now. Beyond them, Rick saw brown houses that +looked like beehives. It was an Igorot village.</p> + +<p>"We'll reach Bontoc soon," Angel said.</p> + +<p>"No truck and no sedan," Scotty added unhappily. "They couldn't have +reached Bontoc, could they?"</p> + +<p>"The truck could have, easily, if Nangolat drove during the night."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll have to keep hunting past Bontoc right into Banaue."</p> + +<p>Angel tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed ahead. "There is Bontoc."</p> + +<p>Nestled in the mountains on the bank of a river was the town of Bontoc, +a small cluster of wooden and grass houses. Rick saw that the dirt road +had changed to a black top.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to look for a place to land."</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. "Good idea."</p> + +<p>Rick waited until the town was directly below, then he sized up the +terrain and began to lose altitude in a tight spiral. It was in +situations like this that the Sky Wagon's flaps came in handy. He pulled +the control down and the movable sections on the trailing edges of the +wings moved down in response. He began to lose speed.</p> + +<p>When he was five hundred feet over the town he flew parallel with the +road, searching for wires and other hazards. There were wires, but they +entered the town from the south, then branched west, toward Banaue. To +the north there were no wires, nor any other hazards he could see. And +the road looked level. He picked a stretch at the edge of the little +town where the houses were far apart. They were primitive little +dwellings made of straw tied together in bundles. He hoped his prop wash +wouldn't blow them apart.</p> + +<p>"Hang on," he said. "Here we go."</p> + +<p>The movement of rice stalks in a paddy near the road gave him wind +direction. He should land from the north. He circled, got into position, +and started in. Scotty leaned forward, eyes peeled for obstructions.</p> + +<p>There was excitement in the town below. People in Western clothes and in +scant breechcloths or tight skirts of Igorots were running into the open +to see what was making the racket. Rick hurried the landing a little, +afraid the people would clutter up the strip of road he had chosen. He +put the Sky Wagon down with no sign of a bump and braked to a stop. +Then, because children were getting near, outstripping their elders in +haste to see the plane, Rick cut the engine.</p> + +<p>Two Igorot boys, perhaps fourteen years old, were the first to reach the +plane as the three climbed out. The Igorots had the chopped-off bowl +haircut, and they wore breechcloths and nothing else. They stared at the +plane, wide-eyed, then one said something to his friend in guttural +Igorot.</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok grinned. Rick asked, "Did you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I speak Igorot."</p> + +<p>Scotty said, "They probably were talking about the great sky bird. That +right, Angel?"</p> + +<p>Angel's grin broadened. "Not exactly. The English equivalent would be +slang. What he said corresponded to 'Hey, bud, get a load of the real +snazzy four-place job. And dig that retractable landing gear!'"</p> + +<p>The boy who had spoken looked at Angel with suspicion. "You no Igorot," +he accused.</p> + +<p>Angel chuckled. "You no Englishman, but you speak English."</p> + +<p>The boy laughed. "Okay, Mac. My name Pilipil. I learn plenty plane stuff +at Clark. Dig holes there for pay. See many plane."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty got over their amazement. It was obvious that the boys +were more than fourteen years old. Their short stature and unlined faces +were deceptive.</p> + +<p>"How old are you, Pilipil?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Eighteen."</p> + +<p>Rick wanted to know more about the boy who had worked as a laborer at +the American Air Force Base at Clark Field, but there was no time +because the rest of the crowd had arrived. The boys found themselves +surrounded by Filipinos and Igorots, all chattering with obvious +excitement and interest.</p> + +<p>A Filipino who was obviously someone of importance pushed his way +through the crowd. He was dressed in a business suit, complete with +starched shirt and tie, an odd rig for such a primitive village as +Bontoc, Rick thought. The man was smoking a cigar with one hand and +carrying a cane with the other. He hung the cane over the wrist on the +cigar hand and held out the other.</p> + +<p>"I am the district road commission. Leocadio de los Santos, at your +service. Mr. Lazada informed me by letter that I was to place my entire +resources at your disposal. You are Mr. Brant, Mr. Scott, and Dr. +Briotti?"</p> + +<p>"Dr. Briotti is not with us," Rick replied. "This is Mr. Manotok."</p> + +<p>"Ah. Delighted. Please come to my office so we may talk quietly."</p> + +<p>Rick looked doubtful. "We shouldn't leave the plane."</p> + +<p>"Do not fear. It will be perfectly safe."</p> + +<p>Santos switched to the native language, speaking briefly and with +authority. The crowd obediently fell back a few paces, leaving a cleared +area around the plane. The road commissioner had the situation under +control, all right.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Angel Manotok said, "I will wait here."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. That was best. He and Scotty followed Santos to the office, +a few hundred feet down the street. The office was on the second floor +of a frame building. The first floor was a work area filled with tools, +including a bulldozer and a road scraper.</p> + +<p>Before discussing business, Santos insisted on refreshment. He clapped +his hands and a dungaree-clad Filipino workman appeared. Santos spoke. +In a few moments the workman reappeared. Both boys were surprised when +he offered them their favorite American beverage. It seemed strange to +be sipping coke in a place inhabited by primitive people clad in +breechcloths, some of them armed with short spears.</p> + +<p>Rick got down to business. "Can you find out if a truck and a green +sedan have passed through Bontoc?"</p> + +<p>"What kind of truck, please?"</p> + +<p>Rick described it. "We don't have the make of the sedan. It may have had +five men in it." He couldn't believe that the sedan had reached Bontoc, +however.</p> + +<p>Santos picked up his phone, reached down, and whirled a crank. The phone +rang. He spoke Ilokano into it, then received a reply from the other +end. He spoke again, then hung up. "That was the gateman at the edge of +town. No truck and no sedan passed through here today."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>Ifugao Country</h3> + + +<p>There was only one difficulty, but it was a major one. Rick didn't know +whether or not the district road commissioner could be believed. Santos +was Lazada's man.</p> + +<p>The boys finished their cokes before Rick decided on a course of action. +If Santos was lying, they would find out soon enough. So, for the +present, they would assume that he was telling the truth, and that he +could be trusted.</p> + +<p>"Is the province peaceful up this way?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes." Santos replied. "It is usually very peaceful. Sometimes on +the road south there is a holdup, but the Igorots in Bontoc and the +Ifugaos at Banaue cause no trouble."</p> + +<p>"Glad to hear it," Scotty said. "When we start digging, some of the +Ifugaos may get upset. I'm glad to hear that they're not often riled +up."</p> + +<p>"What are your plans?" Santos asked.</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "It is hard to know where to begin. Before we plan our +campaign to locate the place where we dig, we must survey the terraces. +Is there any sort of field where I could land at Banaue?"</p> + +<p>"No," Santos replied with great positiveness. "Once you see the terraces +you will see for yourself that there is no place."</p> + +<p>Rick stood up and Scotty followed suit. "I think perhaps we had better +fly over to Banaue and see the terraces. Then we will have a better +understanding of our problems. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. De +los Santos."</p> + +<p>"It is nothing. But tell me. Isn't there another in your party? Another +American?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. How did you know?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior phoned personally. He +described all of you, and said to do everything possible to make your +visit interesting and successful."</p> + +<p>"That was very good of him," Rick said. "We will be back again, perhaps +tomorrow. Will you be here?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so. If I am not, it will be because I am inspecting a road +section. Never am I gone long."</p> + +<p>Santos lingered to give instructions in the native language to one of +his men, and Rick took advantage of the few seconds to whisper to +Scotty:</p> + +<p>"I'll stall him. Get back to the plane. Have Angel make a deal with +those Igorot boys to keep an eye on the road. I want another spy in +Bontoc besides someone we know is Lazada's man. You know what's needed."</p> + +<p>Scotty did. He hurried off to do what was necessary. Rick waited for +Santos, then asked the commissioner to point out the road to Banaue. "I +plan to follow the road in my plane. Do you think that is all right?"</p> + +<p>Santos did. "You may lose the road in the clouds as you cross the top of +the mountain range that divides the Igorot tribe from the Ifugaos, but +you should then be able to see Banaue. Will you come back here after you +have seen the terraces?"</p> + +<p>"Not today. We probably will be back tomorrow in a jeep. The plane is +handy, but we can't land at Banaue, you say."</p> + +<p>"You will see. And I will see you tomorrow. Then you can tell me how the +terraces look from the air."</p> + +<p>"Better still," Rick promised. "Next time I have the plane here, I'll +take you to see for yourself."</p> + +<p>Scotty winked as Santos and Rick approached the plane, and Rick knew +that Scotty and Angel had been able to make a deal with Pilipil, the +Igorot boy, and his friend. The party shook hands with Santos, then +climbed into the plane. The crowd of natives moved away from the road as +Rick started the engine, then turned the plane and taxied down the road +to the take-off point he had selected. He was a little nervous, for fear +a child might dart into the road while he was picking up flying speed, +but the crowd was well-disciplined and held steady as the Sky Wagon +roared past and climbed.</p> + +<p>"We now have Pilipil and his pal working for us," Scotty said when they +were air-borne.</p> + +<p>"They're smart boys," Angel added. "They'll be able to report on every +car and every person passing through Bontoc from now until we get back."</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. "Good. But I'm still worried. We've done everything we +could think of, but there's no pay-off. We still haven't found Tony. We +were sure whoever kidnaped him would head for the Ifugao country, but +there were no sedans on the road today. How do we know Tony isn't hidden +somewhere near Baguio? How do we know he's still alive?"</p> + +<p>Scotty put a hand on his shoulder. "Why wouldn't he be alive? Who would +gain anything by his death? We have to remember that the gimmick in this +whole business is a golden skull. Nast wants it, Nangolat wants it, +Lazada wants it, and we want it. No one has it."</p> + +<p>Rick gained altitude steadily, keeping an eye on the twisting road +below. "All right. I'll go along with your reasoning. Whoever wants the +golden skull has to go to Banaue to find it. It can't be found—unless +by a lucky accident—without the earth scanner. And who has the +scanner?"</p> + +<p>"Nangolat."</p> + +<p>"Can he use it?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "Tony can use the scanner, though. We suspect that Nast +has Tony. The question is what is the relationship between Nangolat and +Nast?"</p> + +<p>Below the Sky Wagon the high green mountains marched in a series of +ridges from horizon to horizon. This was the divide between Igorot and +Ifugao country. Rick let the conversation lag as he searched below and +ahead for a landmark. There was a little cloud cover around him, as +Santos had predicted.</p> + +<p>Then the cloud was past and the three looked down into the great valley +of Banaue.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty gasped. It was incredible! As far as they could see, the +mountains on either side of the valley were sculptured into irregular +green steps, or terraces. The smallest terrace was perhaps only a few +feet square, while the larger ones were the size of a football field. +They rose in an irregular triangle right to the base of the clouds. +There was no particular pattern. The Ifugao farmers had simply used +every possible inch of space to make terraces for the growing of rice. +In some places the step from one terrace to the next was only a foot or +two. In other places the step up to the terrace above was forty feet.</p> + +<p>The retaining walls of the terraces were native stone, irregular pieces +laid together by expert Ifugao masons without benefit of mortar or +concrete. The same method had been used to make the great wall of China.</p> + +<p>Rick found his voice. "I've seen pictures, but they didn't tell even +part of the story. This is fantastic!"</p> + +<p>"It's the most wonderful job of engineering I've ever seen," Scotty +agreed. "And when you think that the engineers are primitive people, +with only hand tools, that makes it even more wonderful."</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok had seen the terraces before, he said, but added, "I'm +glad to see them from the air. You can understand now why Santos said +there was no place to land."</p> + +<p>Rick certainly could understand. The only level places in the entire +valley were the flat surfaces of the terraces, and no terrace was large +enough to land on. In fact, most terraces were too small even for a +carabao, the native water buffalo, to drag a plow across them. The +Ifugao rice planters had to farm their terraces by hand.</p> + +<p>There was no use looking for a landing place in the immediate vicinity +of Banaue.</p> + +<p>"We'd better take a swing down the valley, just to get a good look, then +head back for Baguio," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Good idea," Scotty agreed. "We need to lay some plans and then get +busy. Can you fly fairly low?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. There's room enough in the valley to make turns, so we won't get +trapped. Let's go down and look."</p> + +<p>The town of Banaue was easy to find. A double row of stores was situated +on a single unpaved street atop a slight plateau in the valley bottom. +The Sky Wagon sped over it, bringing the storekeepers and their few +customers running out to look.</p> + +<p>"The Ifugaos live in villages around the valley," Angel said. He pointed +to one or two of them, clinging to the mountainside between terraces. +The huts were of straw bundles, discolored by smoke and dust. "The +stores have kerosene, thread, matches, tobacco, salt, oil, perhaps a +little cloth. The Ifugaos do not need much—or, if they need it, they do +not know that they do."</p> + +<p>Rick thought that one over as he climbed out of the valley and set a +compass course south to Baguio. The course would intersect the Bontoc +Road, which he would then follow into town.</p> + +<p>"What's our next step?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We've got to find Tony, of course. I have a hunch that we weren't +thorough enough in looking over the Bontoc Road. Nangolat <i>had</i> to be on +it. Where else could he go? Or where else <i>would</i> he go?"</p> + +<p>"That lumber could have been camouflage," Angel offered.</p> + +<p>Rick's first reaction was to ask what lumber, then he remembered that an +Army truck like theirs, but loaded with lumber, had been on the Bontoc +Road.</p> + +<p>"Of course! Who would suspect a load of lumber, especially since this is +lumber country?"</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. "It's possible. Tomorrow we'll go back to Bontoc, and if +Nangolat was driving that lumber truck, Pilipil and company will know +it. Tonight we'll cover Baguio again to make sure our enemies aren't +still around. Perhaps we can find Chahda."</p> + +<p>"If we haven't found Dr. Briotti by tomorrow night," Angel said, "we +should go to the police."</p> + +<p>"There's someone else we'll visit first," Rick said grimly. "And that's +Mr. Irineo Lazada!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>Ambush</h3> + + +<p>The hotel had received no word of Tony Briotti. Rick and Scotty hadn't +really expected any word. They were certain that he had been kidnaped by +Nast. Even the reason for the kidnaping was no longer important. What +was important was to rescue Tony.</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok left before the boys were ready for dinner. He hoped to +pick up some information at various places he knew around town. Perhaps +gossip which might be useful. Perhaps someone had seen something unusual +which could have a bearing on the young archaeologist's disappearance. +Angel promised to report back later. He would spend the night in Tony's +room.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty decided to have dinner, and then talk with some of the +local Americans about the best place to buy a jeep. If possible, they +wanted to pick one up after dinner, get it ready to travel, and have it +standing by the next morning early.</p> + +<p>They did not talk much at dinner. They were more worried about Tony than +either of them would admit, and Rick was feeling a little ill at ease +because they hadn't notified the police. He had talked it over with +Angel, but the Filipino guide had said, "We'll have to notify them +sooner or later, but it will do no good."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we should notify the American ambassador at Manila," Rick said +aloud.</p> + +<p>"We should have notified him long before this," Scotty agreed. "But we +always try to do everything ourselves. I guess we'll never learn."</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok appeared in the dining room, eyes searching for the boys. +Rick saw him and waved. Angel came over and slid into a seat. Apparently +he had seen a doctor, because the bandage around his head was a new one.</p> + +<p>"Friend of yours coming this way," he said. "Probably will have dinner +here. Lazada."</p> + +<p>Scotty's lips tightened. "I'll be glad to see him," he assured Angel. "I +want to ask him about his pal Nast."</p> + +<p>Rick's eyes opened wide. "No need," he said. "Look at the door."</p> + +<p>There, just entering were Lazada and Nast, arm in arm!</p> + +<p>The boys waited until they were seated, then walked over to join them.</p> + +<p>"Good evening," Rick said. "I hope you gentlemen are well."</p> + +<p>Lazada and Nast smiled. The Assistant Secretary nodded. "Both quite +well, thank you. And how are you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm fine," Rick said. "But my friend is giving me a little +trouble." He pulled a chair out from Lazada's table and sat down. Scotty +followed suit. Rick was close to Lazada, while Scotty's chair was nearer +to Nast.</p> + +<p>"Your friend is giving you trouble?" Lazada asked. "Which friend?"</p> + +<p>"This one," Rick said, motioning to Scotty. "He wants to kill Mr. Nast. +I don't think we should kill Mr. Nast, do you?"</p> + +<p>Lazada smiled. "Ask him."</p> + +<p>Rick turned to Nast. "Do you have an opinion, Mr. Nast?"</p> + +<p>Nast was a little pale, but his voice was steady enough. "I certainly +do. I agree with you, Mr. Brant."</p> + +<p>Rick grinned mirthlessly. "You do? I'm glad. Instead of killing you, I +suggested to Scotty that we cripple you. Perhaps a few compound +fractures of the arms and legs."</p> + +<p>Rick could see that neither Lazada nor Nast were as composed as they +seemed. The calm, unearthly discussion was too bizarre. Threats were +something they understood, but not threats like this.</p> + +<p>Scotty spoke for the first time. He addressed Nast. "Because you're a +fellow American I thought the decent thing to do would be just to kill +you outright."</p> + +<p>Nast shuddered visibly. "You're both joking, of course. But it isn't a +very funny joke, I assure you."</p> + +<p>Rick smiled. "No, it isn't very funny. But neither is Dr. Briotti's +disappearance. You'd better tell us where he is."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think Mr. Nast knows?" Lazada asked.</p> + +<p>Rick considered. They had no proof. No one had seen Nast in the sedan +that had taken Tony from the airport. The boys saw movement at the +entrance to the dining room and realized that two Filipinos were +watching them like hawks, and that the hands in their pockets certainly +held pistols.</p> + +<p>Rick shifted tactics. "Do you have much faith in your bodyguards?"</p> + +<p>Lazada raised his eyebrows. "Faith? Of course. They are loyal to me. If +anyone tries to get close to me without my permission, they step in and +remove that person. Or, if anyone should try violence...."</p> + +<p>Rick smiled. "How good do you think they would be against a sniper with +a rifle five hundred yards away?"</p> + +<p>"Obviously, they would be ineffective."</p> + +<p>"Just the point I wanted to make," Rick agreed. "You realize, of course, +that there is no protection against assassination, except to take refuge +in a fortress of some kind and stay there. That's impossible for a +public figure like yourself."</p> + +<p>"True. Your point, then, is what?"</p> + +<p>"That Dr. Briotti has friends with rifles. It would distress us to find +that he had been harmed."</p> + +<p>"It would distress me," Lazada assured them. "I was very much impressed +by Dr. Briotti's knowledge and enthusiasm. I assume that you think I +have some knowledge about his disappearance. I do not."</p> + +<p>"Me either," Nast added hastily.</p> + +<p>Lazada's round face glistened with perspiration. "I will control my +anger, Mr. Brant. I take your age into account. Allow me to remind you, +however, that I am an official of the Philippine Government and that you +are an alien. You are here on sufferance, and you have only such rights +as you can persuade us to give you. Oh, I know there are agreements. But +let us be realistic. Do not force me to lose my temper and do something +for which I would be sorry."</p> + +<p>"All right." Rick rose. "I'm not as enthusiastic about this expedition +as I used to be, but we're going through with it, anyway, starting +tomorrow. The sooner we finish, the better for everybody." He looked at +Nast. "Except you. I can only promise you that your pal Lazada will +never be able to give you the golden skull to smuggle into China."</p> + +<p>The boys walked back to their own table and left Nast and Lazada staring +after them. That would give them something to chew over, Rick thought.</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that we were smart," Scotty said when they were seated +once more. "I'm sure Nast had something to do with Tony's disappearance, +but I can't tell you why I'm sure. Was it wise to throw it up to them?"</p> + +<p>Rick shrugged. "Maybe not. But it's done now."</p> + +<p>The boys slept with locked windows and doors, but they slept soundly. +Down the hall, Angel also regained strength and optimism while he slept, +so that the three awoke the next morning with a determination to make +some real progress. They had followed their plans and obtained a jeep +the night before. But they would need blankets and warmer clothing, +unless their supplies could be recovered.</p> + +<p>Over breakfast, Scotty estimated their chances. "Suppose we find out +that the truck is somewhere in the Ifugao country. Would that guarantee +our getting it back? No, it would not. So, we'd better write off the +stuff in the truck as lost."</p> + +<p>Fortunately, stores open early in Baguio, and the boys were able to buy +the things they needed. Scotty also bought an extra five-gallon gasoline +can for the jeep. Then Angel and Scotty loaded their few belongings into +the vehicle, shook Rick's hand, and headed for Bontoc.</p> + +<p>They had agreed that it might be convenient to have the Sky Wagon at +Bontoc, too, so Rick would fly up later, planning to arrive at about the +same time. Now, he sat down in the hotel lobby and penned a note to the +American ambassador, describing the events of yesterday and telling of +their future plans. He gave the note to the desk clerk, with +instructions that it was not to be sent for three days.</p> + +<p>Rick figured that at the end of that time he would either reclaim the +note, or that all of them would be in need of help, and the American +ambassador would get the letter and use it as a reason for sending a +strong note to the Philippine Government, or maybe call out the Marines, +the Navy, and the Air Force. Rick was a little vague on just what would +happen.</p> + +<p>The note written, he tried to read for a while. Scotty and Angel were +not well started, and it would be pointless for him to go on to Bontoc +alone. He wondered where Chahda was, and what he was doing. The Hindu +boy had his own way of operating, and it was one Rick and Scotty could +not hope to copy. Chahda had the gift of mimicry. He could fade into a +new background as though he belonged to it.</p> + +<p>Rick hoped that Chahda, somehow, was keeping a protective eye on Tony.</p> + +<p>He couldn't read. He tried napping, but that was no good, either. At +last, unable to remain idle a moment longer, he took a taxi to the +airport, topped off the Sky Wagon's tanks with gas, checked the plane +thoroughly, got a weather report and took off.</p> + +<p>He climbed to fifteen thousand feet and scanned the terrain for +landmarks. He spotted Mount Panay to the west, verifying its name on the +map. Then he picked up the Bontoc Road and searched for the highest +point, where it emerged from the valleys and swung across a peak over +seven thousand feet above sea level.</p> + +<p>If he had estimated Scotty's travel time correctly, the jeep should just +now be emerging into the brilliant sunlight of the peaks. He wished for +binoculars, but they had failed to bring any, one of those oversights +that happen on any expedition.</p> + +<p>There was a little traffic on the road. A car of some kind was at the +peak, probably stopped to allow the occupants to see the magnificent +view. Then he saw that the car was being driven off the road into a +grove of trees just beyond the peak. That was odd.</p> + +<p>He identified the jeep. In a moment or two it would be at the peak. He +would go down and wave. Then he would go back to the airport, have +lunch, and fly on to Bontoc. That way, he would get there only slightly +ahead of Scotty and Angel.</p> + +<p>He lost altitude. Below, men were getting out of the car which had +driven into the scant cover of a scrub-pine grove. Rick watched as they +walked to the peak. Sunlight reflected from metal. Probably lunch boxes, +he thought. The men were going to have their picnic lunch while looking +over the wonderful mountains of northern Luzon. Good idea. Probably that +was why they had parked the car off the road.</p> + +<p>Then he saw that they were not stopping at the peak, but were taking +positions along the road a short distance beyond it. Again, sunlight +glinted from metal as one of them sat down in a copse just off the road.</p> + +<p>Sweat suddenly poured on Rick's forehead. He wasn't watching simple +picnickers! He was watching an ambush being set up—and it could only be +for one vehicle, because there was only one in sight along the miles of +twisting highway.</p> + +<p>Scotty and Angel!</p> + +<p>Rick spun the Sky Wagon up on a wing and let it slide. He held the slide +for long moments while the altimeter ticked off the lost altitude. Not +until it registered eight thousand feet did he level off, only a +thousand feet above the mountaintops. For a moment he couldn't see +Scotty and Angel, then he saw them climbing toward the peak at a good +speed. In about twenty seconds they would reach it.</p> + +<p>He gauged the amount of clearance he had. It wasn't much. Then he put +the stick forward and dove for the road. He leveled off so low that his +prop wash kicked up dust. The jeep seemed to rush at him and he had a +glimpse of Scotty's surprised face, then he was roaring up in a climb +that flattened him against the seat. He leveled off and looked for the +jeep. It was still moving ahead.</p> + +<p>Rick groaned. Scotty thought he was just playing! He should have written +a note and dropped it, but now there was no time. The jeep would be in +the ambush before he could let his friends know why he had buzzed them.</p> + +<p>He was helpless. There wasn't anything in the Sky Wagon that he could +throw at the enemy. But he could at least try to make them keep their +heads down. He roared in for the attack, aiming at the places where the +attackers waited.</p> + +<p>The ambushers had the advantage. All they had to do was sit still. Rick +could not hurt them without cracking up the plane and actually landing +on them. Still, it was terrifying to have the plane roar past scarcely +two feet above one's head, and Rick knew the attackers would be worried +about the possibility of an accident.</p> + +<p>One man had weak nerves. On Rick's second pass he stood up and ran, +heading for the comforting shelter of the trees. Scotty saw him. The +jeep braked to a halt.</p> + +<p>Instantly the ambushers opened fire. Scotty and Angel jumped from the +exposed jeep and took to the ditch. Rick dove at the riflemen again and +saw them shoot at him.</p> + +<p>He gained a little altitude and circled, estimating the situation. There +were four attackers, counting the one who had run for the car. That left +three effective ones. Scotty and Angel were unarmed, a grave mistake. +They should have purchased weapons. However, since he had been able to +warn them, the attack had failed. They were in good cover, and as long +as he was overhead, ready to dive on the attackers if they should try +for a better position, the two were all right.</p> + +<p>Rick thought he saw a way out. At least there was no harm in trying. He +took the pad of paper he kept in the door pocket and printed a message +to the attackers.</p> + +<blockquote><p>YOU HAVE LOST. NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU GO, I CAN FOLLOW. I CAN HAVE +THE POLICE TRAP YOU AT BONTOC OR BAGUIO. I CAN CARRY POLICE TO +BONTOC FASTER THAN YOU CAN DRIVE THERE. BUT IF YOU LEAVE YOUR +RIFLES IN THE ROAD, GO TO YOUR CAR, AND HEAD FOR BAGUIO, I WILL DO +NOTHING.</p></blockquote> + +<p>He searched for a weight and found his emergency fishing kit, a war +surplus item which he carried in case he might someday find himself at a +good fishing spot without tackle. From the kit he extracted a heavy +sinker. A piece of fishing line completed the rig. He lashed the sinker +to the folded paper. Now to toss it out so it would land among the +attackers. He swung low over the road, gauging his distance. When he saw +the peak rushing at him he released the weighted paper, climbed swiftly, +and saw one of the attackers run to get it.</p> + +<p>Apparently it made sense to the three men. They talked among themselves +for a moment, then carried their rifles to the middle of the road and +went to the car. Scotty and Angel realized that something was going on, +but prudently remained under cover. Not until the ambushers' car roared +past on the way to Baguio did they emerge and wave at Rick. He waggled +his wings, then turned and made a beeline for the city. He wanted guns +and ammunition, and there was no time like the present to buy them!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>Warriors Three</h3> + + +<p>Rick got guns, but it took time. There were no sporting goods stores in +Baguio. In fact, there were no stores that carried rifles. A few carried +pistols, mostly Italian and English makes. But Rick knew that a pistol +is better for morale than for actual use. Few people can hit anything +with a pistol, and fewer still can hit a moving target.</p> + +<p>He supposed that Scotty and Angel had picked up the rifles of the +ambushers, but since he didn't know the calibers, he couldn't get +ammunition for them. What he finally procured were a shotgun, 12-gauge +with an ample supply of shells, and a United States Army carbine, with +about ten clips. These were private purchases from a store owner who was +willing to sell his personal arsenal.</p> + +<p>It was late when Rick got started for Bontoc. He watched for Scotty and +Angel on the road but failed to catch up with them. They had reached +Bontoc before him, as he found when he circled to land. They cleared the +road and stood by while he brought the Sky Wagon down.</p> + +<p>Angel had already hired two Igorots to guard the plane. They were +tough-looking customers who wore hard-rock miner's helmets, a sign that +they had mined gold in Baguio.</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon was pulled off the road into a field and the Igorots sat +down next to it, short spears handy to their reach. The plane would be +all right. Rick got into the jeep with Scotty and Angel, and the first +thing he saw was their collection of armaments. They had four rifles, +two of them old Army Springfield rifles, and two carbines.</p> + +<p>"We are now well armed," he said. "Where's the enemy?"</p> + +<p>"After that ambush," Scotty replied, starting the motor, "I'm no longer +sure. We certainly didn't expect that."</p> + +<p>"I think we brought it on ourselves," Rick said. "Last night we gave +Lazada and Nast a hard time. I'll bet Lazada sent out that expedition +just for laughs." A thought struck him. "By the way, where are the two +Igorot boys you hired yesterday? How come they aren't guarding the +plane?"</p> + +<p>"We thought we'd take them with us, as extra hands," Scotty explained. +"They live at the southern edge of town. We're going there now. We've +already talked with Pilipil. He's getting a third boy for us to hire."</p> + +<p>"Hey, take it easy," Rick complained. "Explain as you go. What did +Pilipil say, and why the third boy?"</p> + +<p>"Our truck has gone over the mountain into Ifugao country. It was the +lumber truck, as we might have known. Nangolat was driving, and Tony and +a third man were with them. That was yesterday. We didn't tell Pilipil +and his friend to follow the truck, so they didn't. But a third Igorot +boy did follow, and he returned to Bontoc this morning. He's with +Pilipil now. We'll go pick them up and head for Banaue. And we'll get +Tony."</p> + +<p>Rick was still a little confused, but he guessed Scotty knew what he was +talking about. "Who is the Igorot who trailed our truck?"</p> + +<p>"Don't know. He was sleeping at Pilipil's when we got here."</p> + +<p>Ahead, Pilipil was standing in front of a board shack, waving. It was +evidently his home. The jeep pulled up and Rick, Scotty, and Angel got +out. Pilipil shook hands all around. "You come in," he said. "We talk. +Make plan."</p> + +<p>He led the way into the shack. Within, two other young Igorots were +seated cross-legged on the floor. One of them was Pilipil's friend, +Balaban, who had been with him on the day they first landed.</p> + +<p>The third Igorot—as might have been expected—was Chahda.</p> + +<p>Scotty pointed to the Hindu boy, who was watching them with an impassive +stare, as though he had never seen them before.</p> + +<p>"Pilipil, how do you know this boy good? Can be trusted?"</p> + +<p>Pilipil shrugged and showed betel-stained teeth in a smile. "Not know. +Maybe no good. But say he know you."</p> + +<p>Scotty looked stern. "You. What have you to say for yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty," Chahda said. "Am plenty tired of pulling Spindrift chestnuts +out of fire. You know how cold it gets in these mountain? Last night I +freeze. I almost attack whole Ifugao village barehanded, just to get +blankets from supplies on truck. Tonight you take off clothes, put on +breechcloth, and stand out in cold. I stay in nice warm hotel, in +Baguio. Worrold Alm-in-ack say this tropical country. Hah! Like North +Pole is tropical."</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty grinned sympathetically. "If you weren't so in love with +being mysterious and adventurous," Rick pointed out, "you could sleep in +comfortable beds in warm rooms. But no. You have to be Chahda the +Vanishing Hindu. And a good thing, too, otherwise Scotty and I would be +floundering most of the time, not knowing where to turn next. Is Tony +okay?"</p> + +<p>Chahda rose. He looked astonishingly like Pilipil and Balaban. From +haircut to bare feet he was an Igorot. Only his brown eyes, +proportionally bigger than those of the real Igorots, were different.</p> + +<p>"Tony is okay. Or was last night. My pal Dog Meat is keeping eye on him. +You see Nast?"</p> + +<p>"In Baguio, last night." Scotty told Chahda of their visit with Nast and +Lazada.</p> + +<p>Chahda nodded. "Nast and Nangolat in cahoots. Nast picks up Tony at +airport, takes him to hut near Trinidad Valley. I see all this. At hut +is Nangolat, with truck of lumber. Nast turns Tony over to Nangolat, so +I drop Nast and follow Tony. Me and Dog Meat, we have fine time. You fly +overhead, too, but see nothing. Not even me. You getting blind, I think. +Lose famous Brant eyesight."</p> + +<p>"We saw the lumber truck," Rick admitted. "But where were you?"</p> + +<p>"Little way behind in jeep."</p> + +<p>Rick remembered that they had seen a couple of jeeps on the road but had +paid no attention. He could see now what had probably happened. +Nangolat, after stealing the earth scanner, had taken the truck to the +hut at Trinidad Valley and camouflaged it with lumber. Tony had gone to +the airport, but had not found Nangolat—he had found Nast. But why? +Rick put the question aloud.</p> + +<p>"Mix up in schedule," Chahda said. "Nast and Nangolat were to meet at +airport and wait for all of you. Catch whole lot at once when you go to +airport in the morning. But Nangolat has luck, and he gets earth +scanner. He takes truck to Trinidad, so you won't find it and get +scanner back. Nast comes to airport in morning, and finds no Nangolat, +but he finds Tony. So he takes Tony and goes to Trinidad Valley to hut +which he knows about, and there is Nangolat."</p> + +<p>"How do you know all this?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>Chahda grinned. "From Nast. He reports to Lazada by telephone. I listen. +Easy. Who would think poor Igorot boy know anything?"</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head in admiration. Leave it to Chahda. "Now what, Master +Spy?"</p> + +<p>Chahda motioned to Pilipil and Balaban. "We three mighty Igorot +warriors. Tonight we lead you to Ifugao, and we get Tony and the truck +and our other stuffs. Then we get to work and find this golden skull."</p> + +<p>"You mean we just walk in and take Tony away from the Ifugaos?" Scotty +demanded.</p> + +<p>"Not that simple," Chahda said. "Ifugaos not wanting to give Tony up, I +think. First he help them find sacred stuff lost for many generations, +then they need new head to sacrifice to sacred stuff, so they use his. +Neat, huh? I think we don't get Tony back without a fight."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>The Ifugao Village</h3> + + +<p>The terraced mountain wall fell away below to the valley floor. Halfway +between Rick and the dark sheen of the river was a level area which +Chahda said was the village. However, it was too dark to see very much.</p> + +<p>"We'll break our necks if we try to climb around among these terraces," +Scotty whispered.</p> + +<p>Chahda admitted, "Good possibility. But what else is there? Later moon +will be up a little. We not go down yet. Study lay of land."</p> + +<p>They had left their jeeps on the roadway that passed above the village. +So far as they knew, no one had seen them approach. Now, perhaps a +hundred feet above the cluster of huts, they sat at the edge of a +terrace and waited for the moon to rise.</p> + +<p>Rick studied the landscape below. His feet dangled over thirty feet of +vertical wall. He would have to make his way down that wall to the next +terrace, and then down the next and the next until he emerged at the +village level. He would be very much like an ant climbing down the three +stone steps at home, except that he wasn't as sure-footed as an ant on +vertical surfaces.</p> + +<p>Then, once the bottom was reached, they had to find Tony, free him, and +take him up the terraces to the jeeps. Rick shook his head. They +probably would have to fight every inch of the way, and there was no +assurance that they would make it.</p> + +<p>In the village below, someone was adding wood to a small open fire in +the central area that served as a village common. Rick could make out +several figures. Scotty moved closer to him. "We need a way to cover our +retreat. Any ideas?"</p> + +<p>"No good ones. We could station a couple of the gang to heave rocks +down."</p> + +<p>"That's probably as good as anything."</p> + +<p>A shadowy figure approached, climbing down the terraces from above. +Chahda whispered, "Dog Meat come. I go see what he finds out."</p> + +<p>Below, the fire was burning more brightly, and Rick could see several +persons bringing wood. Apparently there was to be a large bonfire. He +groaned softly. That meant light to make their task harder.</p> + +<p>Chahda consulted with his friend for a few moments, then rejoined Rick +and Scotty. Angel, Pilipil, and Balaban were grouped at the rear of the +terrace, waiting for instructions.</p> + +<p>"Dog Meat know which hut Tony is in. Has two guards. Nangolat gone +somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Why are they building up the fire?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"Not know. I think better we move. We climb down. Dog Meat will take us +to Tony. We cut him loose and fight our way back."</p> + +<p>Suddenly they stiffened as a rhythmic metallic clanging sound floated up +to them.</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok moved to their side. "Ifugao music," he whispered. "I've +heard it before. The instruments are <i>tinaklings</i>, like pans, suspended +from human jawbones. They're getting ready for some kind of ceremony +down there."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll wait," Scotty said. "If they get started on some kind of +ceremony, we may have a chance to move in quietly."</p> + +<p>"That makes sense," Rick agreed, and Chahda nodded.</p> + +<p>They crouched on the edge of the terrace and watched as the fire below +grew into a roaring blaze. Men and women could be seen clearly now. The +musicians—if the clanging could be called music—were next to the fire. +Then, the people fell back, and six men and six women took their places +in two lines and began to dance. It was a stiff, formal sort of dance +with little body movement. Hands and arms made gestures which Rick could +not interpret, while the feet shuffled slowly in the dust.</p> + +<p>Scotty touched his shoulder. "Let's go. Chahda, you, Rick, Dog Meat, and +I will go. Angel, Pilipil, and Balaban will stay here to cover our +retreat. Angel, you can use a rifle. Have Pilipil and Balaban pry loose +some big rocks. Use your own judgment. We don't want a war, but we don't +want to lose our heads, either."</p> + +<p>"How about our truck?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>Chahda replied. "It is not here. Nangolat took it. We get Tony, then we +take the road Nangolat took. Dog Meat knows."</p> + +<p>The fire was bright enough so Rick could see Dog Meat for the first +time. The little Igorot was an older edition of Pilipil. He wore only a +breechcloth and the little pillbox hat in which he kept his matches and +tobacco. His face was wrinkled and gnomelike.</p> + +<p>"Lead on," Rick said.</p> + +<p>Dog Meat went to the edge of the terrace and slipped over. He climbed +down with incredible swiftness. Then Chahda followed. Rick made sure his +carbine was slung tightly across his back, then followed. His feet +groped for toe holds in the rough stone wall of the terrace and found +them without too much difficulty, but his descent was slower than Dog +Meat or Chahda's. He was painfully conscious that he was an excellent +target. Below, chanting voices joined the rhythmic clanging. The sound +of their descent would not be heard.</p> + +<p>Rick reached the bottom of the terrace and found Chahda and Dog Meat +waiting. There were two more terraces to descend before the village +level was reached. In a moment Scotty joined them. Dog Meat led the way +once more. The party made its way down the face of the terrace and +emerged on a level only thirty feet above the village floor.</p> + +<p>Rick was astonished that the villagers had not seen them. He felt very +much exposed to view, even though he realized that the shadows were deep +and that the villagers were not watching the terraces.</p> + +<p>Dog Meat led the way to the extreme end of the next terrace, choosing a +place where the huts would be between the climbers and the fire. Then he +vanished over the edge of the terrace and Chahda followed. Rick picked +his way carefully. There were gaps between the stones, but sometimes he +had to feel with his feet until he found an opening big enough to +accommodate the toe of his shoe. Dog Meat and Chahda had the advantage, +because bare feet could find holds much more swiftly.</p> + +<p>He reached ground level behind a straw hut. Dog Meat and Chahda were +waiting. Chahda had unslung his rifle, and Dog Meat was holding a +razor-edged bolo. Then Scotty was down, too, and they made a close file +behind Dog Meat as he showed them the way to the hut where Tony was +being held.</p> + +<p>The music and voices were loud, now, and the fire made yellow patterns +where they crossed open spaces. Then Dog Meat came to a halt behind a +straw hut and gestured that this was the one.</p> + +<p>Chahda took the bolo from him and made a slit in the straw of the hut. +Then he peered through the opening he had made. Rick and Scotty pushed +close and took turns looking.</p> + +<p>Tony was tied to a post in the center of the hut. The hut door opened +onto the village common, and the only light was that of the fire. +Blocking the light were two figures, Ifugao guards, clad only in +breechcloths. Both held spears. Unlike the Igorot spears, the Ifugao +weapons were tall with flared points.</p> + +<p>Chahda sliced through the straw of the hut with the bolo, parted it, and +stepped through. Rick was close on his heels, rifle unslung and ready +for use. He felt Scotty crowding him.</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy ran to Tony, knelt, and cut his bonds. Rick lifted his +rifle and reached the front of the hut in three long strides. The barrel +of his weapon descended on the head of the nearest Ifugao. Rick caught +the man as he fell.</p> + +<p>The second Ifugao turned, mouth open to yell, and stepped right into a +vicious butt stroke from Scotty's rifle. Chahda was already ushering +Tony through the opening at the rear of the hut. The boys pushed through +and followed at a trot as Dog Meat guided them back the way they had +come. The music was still loud. No one had seen the guards go down.</p> + +<p>The party reached the first terrace and stopped while Tony massaged his +hands. The rope had cut off the circulation. Finally he motioned that he +was ready. He could climb, but slowly. At a whispered word from Chahda, +Rick and Scotty went up the terrace wall and took stations with ready +rifles, in case they should be spotted while Tony was helpless on the +wall.</p> + +<p>Tony reached the top of the first terrace and whispered that he could +move faster now. Chahda and Dog Meat took him to the easiest place to +climb the second wall, while Rick and Scotty waited as a rear guard.</p> + +<p>Tony was halfway up the second terrace when pandemonium broke loose in +the village below. The boys saw the dance break up, saw men rush into +the hut where Tony had been held prisoner and drag out the guards, one +of whom had regained consciousness. The men of the village scattered +into various huts and came out with spears and bolos.</p> + +<p>Rick looked up in time to see Tony's legs disappear over the top of the +terrace wall. He tugged Scotty's arm. "Let's go."</p> + +<p>They swarmed up the wall as fast as their groping hands and feet would +allow, but not before a spear clanged off the stones between them. They +had been spotted!</p> + +<p>Chahda leaned over and grabbed Rick's hand. Rick went up in a hurry, +then both of them pulled Scotty up. Ifugaos were already on the terrace +below!</p> + +<p>Rick realized that the Ifugaos had the advantage. They were used to the +terraces. He also realized that they could be where he now stood before +Tony could get up to where Angel and the Igorots waited.</p> + +<p>He and Scotty unslung their rifles. Chahda joined them, bolo in hand. +Dog Meat would help Tony up. The boys spread out, working by hand +signals. They were a short distance back from the terrace edge, but +close enough to swing at any heads that appeared.</p> + +<p>The first Ifugao pursuer came up the wall near Chahda. The Hindu boy +swung with the flat of his bolo and there was a <i>thunk</i> as he connected. +Then Rick saw a face appear and poked at it with the muzzle of his +rifle. The face vanished and there was a scream as the Ifugao fell.</p> + +<p>Rick winced. It was a long fall, but at least there was soft ground of +the rice paddy at the bottom.</p> + +<p>Another face appeared and Rick swung his rifle barrel, felt it connect, +then answered Angel's yell. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>Scotty triggered off half a dozen shots, then the three boys ran for the +wall and started up. From above, Angel and Tony yelled encouragement. +Angel's rifle blazed away. Pilipil, Tony, and Balaban threw rocks.</p> + +<p>A spear, badly thrown, came sideways through the air and caught Rick +across the legs. He almost lost his footing, but recovered and went up +another step. He didn't dare look down. He knew the Ifugaos were on the +terrace below, but to look down was to lose time. He went up another few +feet, then got stuck unable to find a handhold.</p> + +<p>A hand grabbed him by the ankle! He yelled and kicked. Angel appeared +right over his head and dropped a rock. The rock brushed Rick and found +its target. There was a wild cry and the grip on his ankle was gone. He +moved laterally along the wall until he could move upward again. Angel +and Pilipil caught his arms and pulled him to the top. Chahda arrived at +almost the same moment, then Scotty appeared.</p> + +<p>Rick unslung his rifle. "Let's go! Make a run for it."</p> + +<p>Scotty called, "Angel! Chahda! Go get the jeeps started."</p> + +<p>They had Chahda's jeep as well as their own. Rick caught Tony's arm. +"Are you all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Fine. Where do we go?"</p> + +<p>"Follow Chahda. Scotty and I will bring up the rear."</p> + +<p>Ifugaos poured over the terrace edge and were met by Pilipil and +Balaban. Scotty and Rick joined in, rifles flailing, and in a moment the +terrace was clear again. The temporary victors took to their heels +before the next wave of Ifugaos could arrive.</p> + +<p>Ahead, they heard the jeeps' motors. They would make it all right.</p> + +<p>A spear arched overhead and stuck quivering in the road. Rick snatched +it out of the ground as he passed. Then there was a gasp from Pilipil as +a spear caught him in the thigh. Instantly Scotty knelt, rifle blazing. +Rick and Balaban helped Pilipil while Dog Meat yanked the spear free. +They rushed the wounded Igorot to the waiting jeeps.</p> + +<p>"Let's go," Chahda yelled. "What's the delay?"</p> + +<p>"Lend a hand," Rick called, and willing hands helped lift Pilipil into +Chahda's jeep. Rick tumbled in behind him.</p> + +<p>"All aboard!" Scotty yelled. "Take off!" he fired a last shot at the +oncoming Ifugaos, then jeep wheels spun in the dirt, headlights flashed +on, and they were on their way.</p> + +<p>Not until they had climbed to the safety of the mountain peaks +overlooking Banaue did they pull to a stop. Pilipil's leg was their +first concern. They examined the wound in the glare from the jeep's +headlights. It was ugly, but not crippling, and it was already starting +to clot. Rick bound it with a clean handkerchief. Then, their wounded +taken care of, the boys took time to exchange notes with Tony.</p> + +<p>"I walked right into it," Tony said. "Literally. I walked to the +airport, expecting that I could ride back with Angel. I had a grave +suspicion, of course, that he was Nangolat, but I'm afraid it didn't +occur to me that there was any danger in charging him with it."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "Did you expect him to give up without a struggle?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I did. However, he wasn't there. There was no one on the +field at all, except a couple of workmen on the far side. I went over to +see if the plane was all right, and a sedan arrived. Nast was in it. He +didn't waste words. He just thrust a pistol at me and ordered me in."</p> + +<p>"We have an idea of what happened then," Scotty said. "From Chahda. He +was following Nast."</p> + +<p>"I hoped he was," Tony said. "I was afraid that unless Chahda knew my +whereabouts I probably would be completely cut off from help. Well, time +enough later for the rest of the story. You know I came from Baguio in +our own truck?"</p> + +<p>"We know," Rick said. "Chahda again. Now Chahda is going to lead us to +the truck, and we're going to get our equipment back."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where the truck is?" Scotty asked Chahda.</p> + +<p>"Dog Meat does. Nangolat drove it to a village on the north side of the +valley. Nangolat is there now. Maybe we meet him on the road, maybe at +the village. We make flying raid, okay? Swoop down, take truck, and +leave."</p> + +<p>"Sounds good to me," Scotty said. "We'll use one jeep to attack, with +the other standing by as a flying reserve. Angel, take the reserve jeep +with Pilipil and Balaban. No, I've a better idea. We have too many men. +We need the extra jeep in case of a breakdown, not for the men it will +carry. Pilipil and Balaban should stay here. The rest of us split up +between the two jeeps. When we find the truck, I'll drive it, with +Chahda as guard. That will leave Rick and Tony in one jeep, and Angel +and Dog Meat in the other. Sound all right?"</p> + +<p>It sounded fine. Angel spoke up. "I'd rather be in the first jeep, in +case we meet Nangolat."</p> + +<p>Scotty shook his head. "Not tonight. Your turn will come later, Angel. +The first thing is to get the truck back. Pilipil, will you be all right +here until we get back?"</p> + +<p>"I be fine. You go."</p> + +<p>They loaded into the jeeps while Pilipil and Balaban moved into a clump +of brush and prepared to wait.</p> + +<p>"Don't bother about silence," Scotty said. "We'll just hit and run. If +they hear us coming it won't matter, because they won't be sure what +we're after."</p> + +<p>"How about those Ifugao natives from the village?" Tony asked. "They're +probably swarming over the road like flies."</p> + +<p>"We not go near them," Chahda replied. "The truck is a different way. +Come on, load rifles. We go."</p> + +<p>Rick was driving the lead jeep, Chahda on the seat next to him. Tony and +Dog Meat were in the rear seat. Scotty was with Angel in the other jeep. +The road was reasonably good, although narrow and winding. Rick roared +down into the valley as fast as prudence and Newton's laws of motion +allowed. Had he gone any faster the jeep would have tipped over on some +unexpected corner.</p> + +<p>"Soon we there!" Chahda shouted.</p> + +<p>Rick kept a sharp watch ahead. The yellow cones of light seemed lost in +the vast darkness of Banaue. There were no other lights.</p> + +<p>"Watch for fork in road, go left," Chahda relayed Dog Meat's +instructions.</p> + +<p>The fork appeared. Rick swung left—and almost bashed into the truck. It +was parked with lights out, close to a village.</p> + +<p>Both jeeps slid to a stop. Scotty and Chahda jumped out, rifles ready, +and ran to the truck. "The keys!" Rick yelled. "Are they in it?"</p> + +<p>"Don't need keys!" Scotty yelled back. "Turn around, quick!"</p> + +<p>Angel was already turning his jeep. Rick followed suit, and his +headlights swung in an arc across the Ifugao village and reflected from +spear tips. The natives here had been alerted!</p> + +<p>The truck roared into life. Rick pulled to one side and motioned Scotty +by. Then, as the truck went past, Rick triggered off a half-dozen shots, +aiming high. Tony did the same with the shotgun, sending loads of bird +shot whistling through the red leaves of the dangla bushes.</p> + +<p>A screaming madman leaped at them, spear extended. It was Nangolat, face +distorted with hatred and fury. He thrust at Tony, but the archaeologist +knocked the spear aside. Then, as Nangolat's thrust carried him close, +Tony let loose a roundhouse that caught the Ifugao squarely on the jaw, +whirled him sideways, and dropped him like a log in the dust of the +road. Then Rick let out the clutch and the jeep leaped ahead. A spear +went through the windshield and showered glass on him, but he only +squinted his eyes against the flying splinters and fed the jeep more +gas.</p> + +<p>Ahead were the red taillights of the truck and the other jeep. The plan +had worked, all right. He didn't know whether or not their supplies were +in the truck, but they would soon find out.</p> + +<p>"I'll say one thing about being a Spindrift scientist," Tony said from +beside him. "It is never dull. Do you wild Indians go in for this sort +of thing often?"</p> + +<p>"Only when necessary," Rick said. "Of course it has been necessary +pretty often. So we're in practice, you might say."</p> + +<p>Tony chuckled. "I'm grateful. You know what Nangolat is working up to, I +presume?"</p> + +<p>Rick didn't, and said so.</p> + +<p>"He planned to force me to locate the golden artifacts with the earth +scanner. Then, the find was to be celebrated with the sacrifice of a +head. That was the part I objected to most. You see, the head was to be +mine!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>The Peaceful Profession</h3> + + +<p>The Spindrift campfire blazed high, and its warmth was welcome in the +cold mountain night. Balaban and Dog Meat were out on patrol, although +it was unlikely that any Ifugao had followed the invaders over the +mountain.</p> + +<p>Camp had been pitched in a grove of trees on the Igorot side of the +divide. The boys and Tony had taken suitable clothing from their +supplies and were now equipped with sturdy trail clothes and warm +leather jackets. Chahda, similarly dressed in spare clothes, now +resembled an Igorot only because of his haircut.</p> + +<p>Tony sipped steaming coffee from a battered mug. He grinned at the faces +around the fire: Rick, Scotty, Angel Manotok, Chahda, and Pilipil, whose +wounded leg had been treated with supplies from the first-aid kit.</p> + +<p>"Archaeologist at work," Tony commented. "Digs in musty old tombs all +day, and now and then gets excited about a clay jug or something else he +uncovers. The archaeologist has nothing but old jugs or beetles or stuff +like that to get excited about. It's a peaceful profession, boys. That's +why I like it. Calm, quiet, orderly."</p> + +<p>Pilipil didn't get the irony in Tony's voice, but the others laughed.</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded agreement. "That's the popular idea of an archaeologist, +all right! Sounds like a recruiting ad, doesn't it? Be peaceful and +quiet. Live to a ripe old age. Be an archaeologist. Reminds me of the +recruiting poster that hooked me once. Join the Marines, it said. See +the world. Learn a trade. I joined. Saw the world while snaking on my +belly through the South Pacific. Learned a trade, too. How to fire a +rifle. Very few peacetime riflemen needed, however."</p> + +<p>"We'll combine our trades," Tony said. "You might say we did, earlier +tonight."</p> + +<p>As Rick put more wood on the fire he said, "We're together, for the +first time. Before, either Tony or Chahda was missing. Now what do we +do?"</p> + +<p>Tony considered. "I must admit I was not giving much thought to the +purpose of the expedition when you came after me. I spent most of my +time imagining how my skull would look on the knick-knack shelf in the +hut."</p> + +<p>"What knick-knack shelf?" Chahda asked.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't have noticed," Tony told them. "It was high in the rear of +the hut, above the opening you made. A shelf full of skulls. I kept +trying to flatter myself that surely my head would be prettier than +those. But I didn't really believe it."</p> + +<p>"Do you really believe the Ifugaos would have taken your head?" Rick +asked.</p> + +<p>"You bet I do! You should have seen Nangolat. He shed civilization with +his clothes. He got down to a breechcloth and he was all primitive. He's +got a bad case of bats in the belfry, believe me. I'd say he was a true +fanatic."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Angel Manotok said positively. "You remember I tell you about +those eyes of his? The doctor is right. Nangolat is crazy. He is a +killer."</p> + +<p>Rick remembered the crazed, distorted face of Nangolat rushing for the +jeep with spear extended. "I vote Nangolat for nuts, too. Insane and +dangerous."</p> + +<p>"This being Mountain Province, Philippines, I don't think it would do +much good to call the men in white coats to bring a strait jacket," +Scotty observed. "So, what do we do? We can ignore him, avoid him, or +shoot him. The first is hard, since he carries a sharp spear. The second +may be possible. The third I reject as being un-scientific and unkind, +not to mention illegal."</p> + +<p>"One more possibility," Chahda offered. "Catch him, tie him up, have +Scotty talk him into stupor."</p> + +<p>Rick chuckled. "You may have an idea there, Chahda. Seriously, Nangolat +is guilty of kidnaping. That makes him a criminal. Surely it isn't wrong +to catch an escaped criminal and turn him over to justice."</p> + +<p>"Not wrong," Tony said, "but maybe just a little bit impractical."</p> + +<p>Rick pressed the point. "Why? If we thought faster, we could have picked +him up tonight. You knocked him colder than a penguin's pocketbook. We +could have tossed him into the back of the jeep like a sack of bones."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Rick. But chances like that don't come twice. Catching him now +would mean making a definite attempt. It would mean an expedition. I +doubt that he'd stay around to be caught."</p> + +<p>"Guess you're right," Rick admitted. "Then, to get back to Scotty's +question, what do we do now? Apparently Nangolat has his people up in +arms against us. There's no law enforcement worthy of the name up here, +so we can't call for help. So what next?"</p> + +<p>Tony poured himself another mug of coffee from the steaming pot. "We +continue after the cache of artifacts."</p> + +<p>The boys stared. Chahda shook hands with the scientist. "Now I see why +Rick and Scotty call you Tony. Number One regular guy. Why let little +thing like whole nation of head-hunters scare you off?"</p> + +<p>"Archaeology is certainly a peaceful profession," Rick said admiringly. +"Scotty and I don't scare easily, but it didn't occur to me that we +should proceed as though nothing had happened."</p> + +<p>"You're getting the wrong impression," Tony said mildly. "Let's consider +the situation. There's Nangolat, the principal troublemaker. What is his +reason for behaving as he does?"</p> + +<p>"Well," Scotty began, "he certainly was the one who tried to kill you on +the boat."</p> + +<p>"I think he was. He would have known all about the expedition from +Okola. He would have known what ship we were on, and a phone call to the +agent of the line would have told him our arrival time, from which he +could easily have figured what time we would enter Manila Bay. He would +also have known that I was the archaeologist for the expedition. After +all, I signed the correspondence we had with Okola, and he was Okola's +assistant."</p> + +<p>"But why would he want to kill you?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"For religious reasons. Nangolat is a religious fanatic. I saw that +quite clearly during the time I was his captive. He does not want the +artifacts dug up—or he didn't. Remember the legend? If they're dug up, +drought and earthquakes will follow. By killing me aboard ship, the +expedition would never take place. That must have been how he reasoned."</p> + +<p>Rick was beginning to see light. "Angel, was Nangolat supposed to be a +Christian?"</p> + +<p>Angel shook his head. "No. He was a pagan. Once he went to church with +me, but that was only to see how Christians worship. He worshiped the +Ifugao gods which were in the museum at the university."</p> + +<p>Rick commented, "I imagine his studies with Okola, and especially the +work he did tracking down the legends of the golden skull, made him even +more religious. I won't say superstitious."</p> + +<p>"You're right," Tony said approvingly. "This is not superstition. +Nangolat is as firmly convinced of the correctness of his religious +beliefs as any Christian martyr. I'm sure he considered the object of +our expedition as pure sacrilege."</p> + +<p>"I'm with you up to a point," Scotty remarked. "But why didn't he kill +the lot of us as soon as we landed? He could have gotten Rick and me the +night we met you for dinner. We walked in a lot of dark places, and we +weren't particularly on guard."</p> + +<p>"He tried," Tony reminded them. "We surprised him in my room at the +Manila Hotel. Probably he was examining my effects to see if I had maps +or charts. Then he waited in the walled city and tried to pick you two +off with rifle fire."</p> + +<p>Chahda spoke up. "Not so easy to find chances to kill, even in city like +Manila. With gang, yes. Alone, no."</p> + +<p>"He's right," Tony agreed. "Then, somewhere along the line, Nangolat had +a change of heart. I don't know why. Perhaps his research told him that +the drought and earthquakes would follow the digging up of the golden +skull only if it should be done by unbelievers like us. Perhaps if the +faithful do the uncovering, the Ifugao gods will smile. I don't know. +But Nangolat decided he wanted the expedition to help <i>him</i> find the +artifacts."</p> + +<p>"The old competitive spirit got him," Scotty murmured. "Wanted his side +to win."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Tony said with a grin. "Anyway, he got away with the earth +scanner; he had it when Nast turned me over to him. Of course he +couldn't use it. So he must have planned to capture one or all of us. He +could have waited until the expedition got here, but things would then +be complicated by our hiring diggers and camp helpers, which he knew we +intended to do. Also, we intended to contact the road commissioner at +Bontoc, a man who represents law and order—such as it is. So Nangolat, +apparently, decided to stake everything on capturing us, forcing us to +find the cache, then removing our heads. By the time the law got around +to looking for us, the artifacts would be well hidden by the Ifugaos, +and so would our bodies. Our skulls would be aging gracefully in some +hidden place. And no Ifugao would know a single thing about it when +questioned. It was a good scheme."</p> + +<p>"Except for one thing," Rick corrected. "The terraces cover miles. We +could spend weeks searching."</p> + +<p>"There's one bit of evidence you don't have, boys. Remember that there +is a major clue to the whereabouts of the cache? A dragon. Well, +Nangolat knows—and has always known without knowing its significance +until now—where the dragon is located."</p> + +<p>Tony smiled at the interested faces around him. "And that's not all. I +know where it is, too!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>Sign of the Dragon</h3> + + +<p>The convoy formed at dawn. One jeep was left with Pilipil, who had +learned to drive while working for the United States Air Force. The +other jeep, with Tony, Chahda, and Rick, went ahead as advance guard. +The truck, with Scotty, Angel, Balaban, and Dog Meat, carried the +equipment.</p> + +<p>The earth scanner had been checked. It worked fine. Picks and shovels +were ready, as were Tony's cleaning brushes, knives, and other tools. +When electronic science had located the treasure, old-fashioned digging +methods would have to unearth it.</p> + +<p>Rifles, carbines, and the single shotgun were loaded and ready. Hunting +knives hung at belts.</p> + +<p>Rick, driving the lead jeep, followed the twisting road up into the +clouds that always seemed to hover at the top of the divide. It was +bitter cold, but they were warmly dressed in clothing from their camp +supplies. They kept a sharp lookout for Ifugao guards, but the road was +deserted.</p> + +<p>As the road descended into the Ifugao country, Tony kept watching for +the first rice terrace. Soon he motioned to Rick. "Around this turn, I +think. Slow."</p> + +<p>Rick rounded the turn and emerged on a natural terrace overlooking +Banaue Valley. The sun, just risen, was a golden ball veiled by mist. It +gave the valley a warm, subdued light that reflected from the green +rice, and from the sheen of water in some terraces.</p> + +<p>It was a scene of indescribable beauty. For long moments the occupants +of truck and jeep just looked and said nothing. Then Dog Meat and +Balaban slipped from the truck and went down the road to take up guard +positions.</p> + +<p>Rick and Tony went to the truck and took the earth scanner from Scotty. +They carried it to the edge of the natural terrace and set it up. The +others joined them, weapons in hand.</p> + +<p>Chahda watched with special interest as the covers were taken from the +portable boxes. He had never seen the earth scanner in operation.</p> + +<p>"Plenty magic, I bet. You scientists make poor native boy scared with +this machine."</p> + +<p>Rick snorted. "Come on and be useful, poor native boy. Connect these +leads for me. They go into the Fahnestock clips on those A batteries."</p> + +<p>Chahda made the connection with the ease of one who has worked with +electronic apparatus before, but he kept muttering about how the poor +native boy was "plenty snowed" by wonderful scientists. Rick just +grinned and went ahead with connecting up the scanner. Tony didn't quite +know what to make of Chahda at first, but soon the Hindu boy's dexterity +convinced him that Chahda was pulling his leg.</p> + +<p>Scotty threatened Chahda with the butt end of his rifle. "I'd offer you +to the Ifugaos, if I didn't know they can't use empty heads."</p> + +<p>"You let that poor native boy alone," Rick said with false concern. He +lifted the probe from its foam rubber-lined receptacle and plugged its +cord into the control panel. The earth scanner was ready to operate.</p> + +<p>Its appearance was not unusual. There was a power pack, consisting of +batteries and a dynamotor, an amplifier, and a control panel. In the +control panel was an oscilloscope. The probe looked like an aluminum +pipe but was really a special tube built like a segment of coaxial +cable. The sensing unit was in an inner core, surrounded by an +atmosphere of pressurized helium. At the tip of the probe was the +sensing element which looked very much like the Geiger tube of a +radiation detector surrounded by a helical coil.</p> + +<p>"Come on, you poor native, and I'll show you how it works," Rick +invited.</p> + +<p>"You not expect to find stuff here. You just testing?" Chahda asked.</p> + +<p>"We want to get a standard pattern," Rick said. He pointed to the +valley. "The terrace soil and rocks should be no different than those +right here. So we'll get the typical response of these, and when we get +to our location we won't have to take time—which could be important if +we have Ifugao spear throwers shooting at us."</p> + +<p>"What's typical response?" Chahda asked.</p> + +<p>Rick showed him the helical coil at the end of the probe. "This coil is +an antenna. It's shooting out electro-magnetic waves of very high +frequency. When those waves hit anything, some are reflected. The +reflected waves are picked up by the tube inside the coil. You with me?"</p> + +<p>"Way ahead of you," Chahda said. "Not all things reflect these waves the +same, huh? Maybe the more dense, the better reflect. So loose earth not +reflect too good, rocks little better, metal very good, and stuff like +crystals best of all."</p> + +<p>"Poor native boy," Tony said chidingly. "You knew how it worked all +along."</p> + +<p>Rick shook his head. "He's never seen it before, Tony. It's just that +he's pretty quick on the uptake for a poor native boy."</p> + +<p>Chahda grinned. "Okay, chums, I'll drop the gag. Go ahead, Rick, I not +know everything yet. Why you testing here?"</p> + +<p>"The minerals that make up the rocks and soil here will show a pattern. +We'll mark the pattern on this plastic screen." Rick indicated a circle +of white plastic, scaled like the face of the oscilloscope. "Then, when +we go hunting, we'll be looking for deviations from the pattern. For +instance, there probably is no metal in the ground here. We're looking +for metal. When we find it, the blip on the scope will stand out very +plainly. Got it?"</p> + +<p>"Think so. Sounds easy. Let's see it work."</p> + +<p>Rick held the tip of the probe at waist level. Tony adjusted the +controls until the scope flickered bright green. A vertical line on the +face of the scope was a much lighter green, nearly white. Then, as Tony +switched the activation circuit, the vertical line formed a pattern that +varied in width from top to bottom. Here and there a blip, a clear +horizontal line, thrust out both ways from the center.</p> + +<p>The present pattern was not unlike that of a stylized Christmas tree, +with broad blips representing branches at the base, and increasingly +narrower ones representing the branches at the top. Rick quickly +sketched the pattern on the plastic circle.</p> + +<p>"Now watch," he said, and put his rifle on the ground under the probe.</p> + +<p>The Christmas tree pattern developed a new element that ruined the +design. It was a strong blip, thrusting out from center, about halfway +up the pattern.</p> + +<p>"Steel," Rick said. "Other metals with good reflection qualities would +show blips slightly higher or lower on the scale."</p> + +<p>"Some gadget," Chahda said admiringly. "What else you need know?"</p> + +<p>"That's all." Tony was already closing the cover to the control panel. +"We're ready to move. Rick, suppose we just set this stuff in the back +of the jeep instead of disconnecting it? Chahda could carry the probe."</p> + +<p>"Good idea. Then it will be ready for use."</p> + +<p>Scotty and Angel had been watching for signs of life in the valley +below. At Rick's hail they joined the group.</p> + +<p>"Last instructions," Tony said. "We will try to persuade Nangolat that +our intentions are good, that we do not want to violate taboos, and that +we will do everything in our power to persuade the authorities that the +artifacts should remain in the Ifugao country."</p> + +<p>"If Nangolat is not there," Angel added, "I will explain to the Ifugaos +that we are friends, that we are helping them to find sacred things that +were lost many years ago."</p> + +<p>"And if none of this works," Scotty picked up, "we will make one sweep +with the scanner, looking for the cache, while holding off the Ifugaos. +If they "attack", that is. If one sweep turns up nothing, we will then +beat a retreat."</p> + +<p>"We'll have to worry about spears," Tony said, "but the Ifugao spear is +primarily a stabbing weapon, and they are not the marksmen that the Zulu +is with an assagai. The risk will not be very great. I need not warn you +to keep under cover as much as possible. And to shoot low if we must +shoot. A leg wound will put a man out of action just as effectively as a +hole in the head, at least when his only weapon is a spear. We don't +want bloodshed. We archaeologists are a peaceful lot."</p> + +<p>"Let's go," Scotty said. He climbed into the truck. "Let's make peace +with the Ifugaos."</p> + +<p>"Put your truck into four-wheel drive," Rick called. He started the +jeep, then shifted into his own four-wheel drive. Then, with a toot of +the horn, he started off. A few yards down the road Balaban and Dog Meat +were waiting. Scotty slowed to let them climb aboard. Then the +two-vehicle caravan speeded up to the maximum the mountain road allowed.</p> + +<p>Tony leaned forward, watching intently for the turn-off. Rick kept the +jeep in second as he led the winding way down the mountainside toward +the bottom of the valley. The road was dirt and badly rutted. If they +should meet another car, one would have to back up until a turn-around +was reached. But it was unlikely that another car would be out at this +time of morning. Chances were that a car passed this way only once in a +great while.</p> + +<p>They were among the rice terraces now. No matter which way Rick looked, +his eyes met terraces. Some were no bigger than table tops, perhaps +filling a tiny space between bigger terraces. Some retaining walls were +only a foot high, while the next step up or down the mountain might be a +twenty-foot wall. Irregular giant steps, green with growing rice. Here +and there was one with no rice, showing a film of water.</p> + +<p>Tony called, "Easy. We turn just a short distance ahead." In another +quarter mile he pointed. "Take that road."</p> + +<p>It was little more than a path that wound a corkscrew way among the +terraces, hugging the mountain wall. This was the way Nangolat had +brought Tony, not even bothering to blindfold him. Rick held the wheel +tightly to keep it from jerking out of his hands on impact with a rock. +Then, ahead, the road suddenly leveled. Rick recognized the scene. He +had been here before, last night, during the hours of darkness.</p> + +<p>The mist had not yet cleared, and the limits on his vision made the +scene seem more like it had last night. He knew that to the left, three +terraces down, was the village. Now he could see that to the right of +the road was a small meadow or very large terrace. He couldn't tell +which. The meadow ran perhaps a hundred and fifty feet from the road to +the base of a retaining wall. It was a very high wall, perhaps as much +as sixty feet. Rick hadn't seen another nearly so high.</p> + +<p>"Turn right," Tony said. "Go into the meadow."</p> + +<p>Rick dropped the jeep back into low gear and swung the wheel. The jeep +climbed over a single row of rocks and moved easily across the meadow. +Rick thought the row of rocks probably constituted a retaining wall, so +that made it a terrace instead of a meadow. Anyway, it was firm under +the tires.</p> + +<p>Behind the jeep, Scotty look the truck over the row of stones as easily +as he would have negotiated a high curbing at home. He followed Rick +across the meadow.</p> + +<p>Rick could see now that in the base of the high retaining wall was a +considerable recess. He asked, with mounting excitement, "Is the dragon +there?"</p> + +<p>Tony nodded. "Let's turn around and back into the recess as far as +possible. We want to be facing out, in case we have to leave in a +hurry."</p> + +<p>Rick did so, then directed Scotty. Not until the vehicles were in place +did they run into the recess and look.</p> + +<p>There on a pedestal, a smaller edition of the one Rick had first seen at +Alta Yuan, was the dragon!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>Under the Dragon's Claws</h3> + + +<p>The Spindrift group jumped into action. Rick, Tony, and Chahda carried +the earth scanner into the recess and set it up. Scotty consulted with +Angel, and at a word from the Filipino, Balaban the Igorot climbed the +wall to the terrace above their heads where he sprawled among the rice +with rifle ready.</p> + +<p>Angel moved to the left about fifty feet, while Scotty moved the same +distance to the right. Dog Meat ran down the meadow to the road, crossed +the terrace, and took up a watch on the village.</p> + +<p>"Work fast," Tony said. "They must know we're here. If they didn't see +us, they at least heard the motors."</p> + +<p>Rick was already at work. He plugged in the probe, checked the controls, +then turned them over to Tony. The scientist set the controls and turned +on the activation switch.</p> + +<p>Rick moved the probe in a long sweep, starting in front of the dragon, +while Tony and Chahda watched the scope.</p> + +<p>"Standard pattern," Tony reported. "Keep it moving ... no change ... no +change...."</p> + +<p>Rick stepped sideways and moved the probe through a slightly different +arc. "No change...."</p> + +<p>Again Rick took a step and swung the probe. He kept moving until the +probe had nearly covered the ground in front of the dragon, then he took +a position next to the bronze statue and covered the ground directly +under its nose.</p> + +<p>"Wait!" There was excitement in Tony's voice. "You're on something!"</p> + +<p>"Metal?" Rick asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"No. It's not a metal response. Some kind of stone, but not the usual +type found around here."</p> + +<p>Tony had a pad out and was making a sketch of the recess, marking the +position of the dragon. Then, while Rick moved the probe through a new +arc, his pencil shaded in the area where the odd response showed on the +scope.</p> + +<p>Rick repeated the scanning process to one side of the dragon, and again +the response was normal until he got close. He changed sides, and the +result was the same. Then he went to the rear of the dragon, expecting a +changed response there. But the results were identical. At last he gave +up, feeling a bit let down, and joined Tony and Chahda. They were +examining Tony's sketch.</p> + +<p>"Plenty clear to me," Chahda said. "Right under old man dragon is round +hole. See?"</p> + +<p>Chahda was right. The changed responses, when charted on Tony's sketch, +showed a circle about six feet in diameter with its center directly +under the dragon.</p> + +<p>"But no metal," Tony said. "That's odd."</p> + +<p>Rick frowned. "It can't be an underground base for the dragon," he said. +"A base would be close to the surface. This response seems to start +about two feet under."</p> + +<p>He stared out across the meadow and noted that Dog Meat was trotting +toward them, but he paid no attention because his mind was working on +the problem.</p> + +<p>"It could be a crypt of some kind," he said. He went to the truck and +got a shovel. "I have an idea." He went to work.</p> + +<p>Dog Meat arrived and chattered excitedly. Angel came running, listened, +and translated.</p> + +<p>"The village is up in arms. Nangolat is making a speech and the young +men are getting ready to make war."</p> + +<p>Rick dug, working on a shaft under the dragon's pedestal. The earth was +packed hard and he had to get a pick. Tony relieved him, and they took +turns until the shaft slanted in to what they estimated was a point +directly under the center of the pedestal.</p> + +<p>"Now," Rick said, and took the probe. He put it into the shaft and +watched expectantly while Tony adjusted the controls. Suddenly the scope +flickered, breaking up the Christmas tree pattern. There were at least +three different responses, two of them definitely in the metals range.</p> + +<p>"This is it!" Tony yelled. "It has to be! Rick, that was an inspiration. +The cache is right under the dragon!"</p> + +<p>There was another yell, from outside the recess. It was Balaban, on the +terrace above. "They come!"</p> + +<p>For the moment the find was forgotten. The Spindrift party stood between +the truck and jeep watching as nearly a hundred Ifugao warriors walked +with menacing silence to the edge of the meadow and stopped.</p> + +<p>Nangolat, naked except for a breechcloth, stepped from the ranks of +Ifugao warriors. He held a spear a foot taller than he, a vicious weapon +with a triangular point and flared base.</p> + +<p>The Ifugao walked ceremoniously across the meadow to a point twenty +yards in front of the recess. "You're trapped," he said. His voice +trembled with hatred. "You can't get away from us now. Come out and +throw down your weapons."</p> + +<p>Tony stepped forward, rifle held carelessly under his arm. He stopped +ten paces in front of the Ifugao.</p> + +<p>"We and you want the same thing," he said. "The artifacts."</p> + +<p>Nangolat thrust the metal-shod base of his spear into the earth. "We +want the same thing, but for different reasons. I want to preserve the +sacred objects of my people. You want to desecrate them."</p> + +<p>"That's not true," Tony replied. "When we touch them it will be with +reverence, with respect for the gods of Banaue. Then, when we have +collected them all, we will buy many pigs for a great feast of +thanksgiving for all the people of Ifugao. The sacred objects will be +used by your priests for ceremonies. Then you, Nangolat, will go with us +when we carry them to Manila. In Manila we will measure them and +photograph them and make sketches. These methods are familiar to you."</p> + +<p>Tony paused, searching Nangolat's face for some sign of a change in his +attitude. "When we are done, we will ask to see the president of the +Philippines. We will petition him to assist in the building of a +temple-museum on this very spot. My scientific foundation will give the +first donation for this purpose. Dr. Okola will help. Then, I hope, the +sacred objects can come back to Ifugao to stay forever, in a place where +all Ifugaos may see them."</p> + +<p>Tony held out his hand, palm upward. "Is that desecration?"</p> + +<p>Nangolat leaned forward, half bowing in his excitement. "The artifacts +must not leave Ifugao!"</p> + +<p>"You know Dr. Okola," Tony replied. "Would he insist that they go to +Manila? I would not. I could take photographs and measurements right +here. The objects need not leave here, so far as I am concerned. That +would be between you and the Filipino authorities."</p> + +<p>Nangolat was obviously impressed. "Wait," he commanded. "I must talk +with the priests."</p> + +<p>He turned on his heel and walked back to the waiting Ifugao warriors. +Several men detached themselves from the group and followed as he led +the way across the terrace toward the village.</p> + +<p>Rick breathed freely for the first time. "Tony, I think he's going for +it!"</p> + +<p>"I certainly hope so," the scientist said with relief. "But regardless +of how the decision goes, the artifacts must be collected. Let's get +some work done."</p> + +<p>How to get the dragon away from the underground crypt was solved with +the truck winch. The cable was passed around the pedestal and the whole +business hauled forward. Then Rick, Scotty, Angel, and Chahda began to +dig while Tony examined each inch of progress for signs that the crypt +was being reached.</p> + +<p>A whistle came from outside. Dog Meat beckoned. The party stopped +digging and hurried out in time to see a station wagon come to a halt on +the road above the village. Six men got out and were met by an elderly +Ifugao. But before they were ushered to the village they took time to +stare at the Spindrift expedition.</p> + +<p>The Spindrift group stared back with a combination of fear, +disappointment, and disgust. Four of the men were strangers. One was an +American—James Nast. The sixth was the Assistant Secretary of the +Interior!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>Flying Spears</h3> + + +<p>"Just like the old saying," Rick observed. "Birds of a feather flock +together. A crooked Filipino, a crooked American, and a crazy Ifugao are +now in conference. And what is the conference about?"</p> + +<p>"They talk about who wins next World Series," Chahda suggested brightly.</p> + +<p>Scotty scoffed at the idea. "They aren't sports lovers, Chahda. They are +gentlemen of culture. I think the conference is about motion pictures. +My idea is that Lazada and Nast are visiting Nangolat in order to get an +Ifugao opinion on whether the hero should be allowed to kiss his horse +in western pictures."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti leaned on his shovel. "I can't see how you can be so wrong +when the evidence is so clear. Isn't Lazada the Assistant Secretary of +the Interior? Isn't this the Interior? I think the Ifugao terraces are +about to be converted to a national park, under the Department of the +Interior. The Assistant Secretary is here to discuss the hot-dog +concession with a local bigwig. Of course he has his American hot-dog +expert with him. It's as simple as that."</p> + +<p>Scotty checked his rifle carefully, sighting down the barrel to make +sure it was mirror clean. "They could also be talking about building a +new swimming pool for Ifugao boys and girls, but somehow I doubt it. +What say we not worry about what they're saying to each other, and worry +instead about digging?"</p> + +<p>"Right as usual," Tony said. "Let's keep at it, and perhaps we'll come +up with something worth talking about."</p> + +<p>They had made a good start. Now, working two by two, they excavated +until the shovels rang from stone. Scraping disclosed a flat stone that +probably was a lid of some kind. They resumed digging until the stone +was completely exposed, then tried to lift it.</p> + +<p>"Weighs a ton," Rick grunted. "Did it move at all?"</p> + +<p>"Not that I could see," Tony said. "Let's dig down around the edges more +and see if the stone is anchored."</p> + +<p>Further digging showed that the stone was not anchored. It probably had +been set in some kind of primitive mortar which would have to be broken +before the stone could be lifted. A crowbar from the truck supplied +leverage and in a moment the stone was free. Willing hands found holds, +lifted it free, and slid it to the back of the recess. Where the stone +had been there now yawned a circular opening about the size of a +manhole.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti was beside himself with excitement. He ran to the truck, +rummaged in the supplies, and produced a flashlight. Then he ran back to +the hole and directed the beam downward.</p> + +<p>The boys crowded around to look. Rick exclaimed in disappointment. The +hole was about eight feet deep and about four feet in diameter. The +walls were coated with green slime and on the bottom there was a mixed +coating of mud and slime and nothing else.</p> + +<p>"False alarm," he said sadly.</p> + +<p>Tony paid no attention. He went to the truck again, and from his own +crate of supplies he produced rope and two galvanized steel buckets. He +also found boots and rubber gloves, a small hand shovel, and an ordinary +garden hand tool with three prongs. These tools he thrust into his belt.</p> + +<p>"I'm going down," he announced.</p> + +<p>Rick realized that Tony was not taking for granted the apparent +emptiness of the hole. He realized, too, that Tony knew much more about +such caches than he. "Okay," he said. "Angel, keep a watch. We don't +want to get caught by surprise while Tony is digging."</p> + +<p>"I've been watching," Angel said. "And we're also being watched by +Ifugaos, on the terraces above the village."</p> + +<p>Chahda looked into the hole doubtfully. "How you get in and out, Tony? +No ladder."</p> + +<p>"The rope," Tony said. "You'll have to lower me, or hold the rope so I +can climb down."</p> + +<p>"We'll lower you," Scotty said. He took the rope and made a loop for +Tony's foot, then directed the archaeologist to sit on the edge of the +hole. Tony did so, putting his foot through the loop. Then Rick, Scotty, +and Chahda payed out rope while the scientist let himself slide from the +edge into the hole. In a moment the rope went slack. He was on the +bottom.</p> + +<p>Rick watched while Tony drove his hunting knife into the wall of the +hole and hung his flashlight on it, the beam shooting downward. Then +Tony took his shovel from his belt and probed the soft earth carefully. +It was so soft that his boots sank in up to the ankles.</p> + +<p>Presently Tony called, "Something here. Get a bucket." He worked with +the shovel and unearthed a small, mud-covered object, then another, then +a whole series of them.</p> + +<p>Scotty tied a bucket to the rope and lowered it. Tony put the muddy +collection in it and Scotty drew it up.</p> + +<p>"Send the rope back for me," Tony called.</p> + +<p>The three boys helped to pull him up. He immediately sat down on the +ground with the bucket between his legs and started to clean his +findings.</p> + +<p>"Rick," he requested, "get me the bag of cloths and brushes from my +case, please?"</p> + +<p>Rick did so. Tony removed most of the mud by wiping it off with his +gloves. Then brushes and cloths completed the job. He held up a human +jawbone, inlaid with gold. His eyes sparkled. "Typical, except for the +gold. The human jawbone is a common Ifugao relic. In fact, they suspend +their musical instruments from human jawbones." He put it down carefully +and started to work on the next object. It turned out to be a pipe, +again typical Ifugao work except for the fact that it was of gold.</p> + +<p>Rick examined it. He had seen pipes something like it before, but made +of clay. "I thought tobacco was an American product," he observed. "How +come these primitive Asiatics had it?"</p> + +<p>"Asia used tobacco long before the Indians introduced it to Europeans," +Tony replied. "But it's curious that the pipe forms should be so +similar. That pipe was made by a process we now use in America for very +delicate castings. It is called the 'lost wax' process."</p> + +<p>"Funny name," Chahda said, interested.</p> + +<p>"Yes, until you know about the process. The Ifugao makes the pipe he +wants out of wax, then coats it with clay, leaving a hole in the clay. +Then he puts the clay in the fire. The clay hardens, but the wax melts +and runs out. The Ifugao, then, has a mold exactly like the pipe he made +of wax. He melts the metal he chooses—gold, in this case—and pours it +into the clay mold. When the metal cools, he breaks off the mold, and +there is his pipe."</p> + +<p>"Lost wax," Scotty said. "You're right. It fits."</p> + +<p>At that moment Angel Manotok came into the recess. "I've been listening. +Don't think I'm presuming, please, but could we work faster? Perhaps +talk about it later?"</p> + +<p>Angel was right, of course. Tony said, "I shouldn't have taken the time +to clean those things. We'll collect them mud and all." He went back +into the hole and worked rapidly, filling the buckets as fast as the +boys could haul them up.</p> + +<p>Rick thought that the crypt probably was dry when the objects were first +placed in it. But the water used to irrigate the rice terraces had +seeped through between the carefully selected stones that lined the pit, +bringing fine particles of dirt and gradually building up a reservoir of +mud in the bottom. Most of the water seeped in and seeped out again, but +the particles of soil remained.</p> + +<p>Tony suddenly gave a cry. "I think I have it!" He braced an object on +his knee and wiped it. "It is! And by its weight, it's thick-walled but +hollow! What a find! Boys, this is wonderful! Tremendous!"</p> + +<p>The scientist tried to place the muddy object in a bucket, but it was +too large to fit. He called, "Can one of you lean away in? I'll hold it +up as high as I can."</p> + +<p>Tony's excavations had taken him down another two feet, but with Chahda +and Scotty holding onto his legs, Rick was able to reach in and take the +object from Tony's outstretched hands. It was bulky, slightly larger +than a human head, and it was heavy—as heavy as lead, or gold!</p> + +<p>Scotty and Chahda pulled Rick out of the pit, then they lowered the rope +for Tony. In a moment he was working on the object, wiping and brushing. +There was a yellow gleam to it now, and the shape was becoming more and +more skull-like as the mud was removed. Tony worked rapidly, and in a +few moments he held it up for them to see. It was a skull, finely +executed of heavy sheet gold, and the workmanship bore the unmistakable +stamp of Alta Yuan.</p> + +<p>"We've succeeded," Tony said, his voice hushed. "Beyond my wildest +expectations!"</p> + +<p>And in that moment Dog Meat and Angel called simultaneously.</p> + +<p>The Ifugao warriors were advancing across the field in ominous silence, +spears ready. Nast and Lazada were nowhere in sight, but at the head of +the warriors was Nangolat!</p> + +<p>Hastily the golden artifacts were put out of sight in the recess and +Tony walked to meet the oncoming Ifugaos.</p> + +<p>Scotty pulled the retractor of his rifle and a cartridge rammed into the +firing chamber. He held the rifle casually, but ready for instant +action.</p> + +<p>Nangolat came closer, and his face was distorted with emotion. He held +the spear in his fist, ready for stabbing or throwing. When he spoke, +his voice, usually moderate, was nearly a scream.</p> + +<p>"I almost believed you," he sobbed. "But now I know the truth! You are +here to desecrate our temples and to rob us of the precious relics of my +people."</p> + +<p>Then the Ifugao saw that the dragon had been moved. He bared his teeth +with fury and his eyes were glazed, black with emotion. He was beyond +reason.</p> + +<p>"Die!" he screamed. "Die!"</p> + +<p>His hand flashed back for the throw. Scotty's rifle spoke sharply and +the heavy slug caught the blade of Nangolat's spear. The Ifugao was +whirled around bodily. He fell as the spear was wrenched from him and +hurled a dozen yards away.</p> + +<p>It was the signal. The Ifugao warriors rushed, launching spears as they +came. Rick pulled Tony back to the shelter of the truck. Angel, Scotty, +and Chahda were calmly firing at the oncoming wave, shooting low with +deadly accuracy. From the terrace above, Balaban was firing down with +good effect, while Dog Meat whammed away with the shotgun.</p> + +<p>Spears bounced off the truck, the jeep, and the dragon. Now and then one +hung quivering in the wall of the recess, but the Spindrift group had +good shielding and there were no casualties.</p> + +<p>The attackers were wavering now. A priest with a knot of chicken +feathers in his hair leaped forward, holding a skull high. Rick guessed +it was an important symbol of some kind, because he saw the warriors +rally. He sighted in and his shot blasted the skull into fragments. The +wave broke and retreated.</p> + +<p>Tony made a quick examination to be sure there were no casualties. Out +on the meadow several wounded Ifugaos, all of them with leg wounds, were +being helped to safety.</p> + +<p>"We can thank Nast and Lazada for this," Tony said bitterly. "Do you +realize that we are in a very bad position?"</p> + +<p>The Ifugao warriors were reforming. Nangolat, recovered from the numbing +shock of Scotty's shot, stormed among them, getting them ready for +another assault. But Nangolat was no longer waving a spear. He was now +armed with a rifle.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>Make or Break</h3> + + +<p>"We can stand off their assaults," Tony said. "We can't stand sniping. +Not for long, at any rate."</p> + +<p>Scotty grinned. "Neither can Nangolat. Let's see if I can fix his +wagon."</p> + +<p>They watched as Scotty wet his finger, tested for wind direction, then +set the sights on his rifle. On the other side of the road Nangolat was +exhorting his troops like a good general, waving his rifle to emphasize +his words.</p> + +<p>Scotty took a classic sharpshooter's position, relaxed but braced. Rick +saw him inhale and hold it. The rifle muzzle moved slowly, following +Nangolat's movements. Then, suddenly, the rifle spoke.</p> + +<p>Nangolat was thrown into the midst of his warriors, while his rifle, its +stock shattered, flailed into the ranks and knocked two warriors down. +And then Nangolat went berserk. He snatched a spear from one of his men, +turned, and ran toward the defenders, screaming. A priest barked an +order and two warriors dashed forward, caught Nangolat, and hauled him +back by force.</p> + +<p>"The old priest had sense enough to know Nangolat wouldn't make it," +Angel said.</p> + +<p>"All right," Tony said crisply. "We're trapped in here. It's not a bad +place to be trapped for a while. They can't get at us without crossing +open spaces, and there is enough overhang to the wall to prevent them +from dropping rocks on our heads. Also, Balaban is up there to warn us +if they try anything from that direction. But we can't stay here +forever. We need help. How do we get it?"</p> + +<p>"It has to be the constabulary at Baguio," Rick said. "There isn't any +other help nearby. If worst comes to worst, I suppose we could call the +American ambassador and try to get him to send Air Force troops from +Clark Field."</p> + +<p>"By the time diplomatic protocol and military red tape got untangled +we'd be old men," Scotty objected. "If we lived to be old men. Also, you +overlooked one little thing. How do we get a message to them?"</p> + +<p>"Wait until night and one of us sneak out."</p> + +<p>Tony looked at his watch. "We won't last until night," he said +succinctly. "It's still early morning."</p> + +<p>Rick examined the terrain between the cave and the road, noting where +the station wagon Lazada had brought was parked.</p> + +<p>"I'm going," he said. "Let history record that Rick Brant carried a +message to...."</p> + +<p>"Not Garcia," Chahda said. "That was in Cuba, says my Worrold Alminack. +Carry message to cops."</p> + +<p>"How?" Scotty demanded.</p> + +<p>"You create a diversion. I'll get in the jeep and make a run for it."</p> + +<p>Scotty considered. "It could work. But I'll do it."</p> + +<p>"My idea," Rick said firmly. "I'll do it."</p> + +<p>Tony was deep in thought. After all, the safety of the expedition was +his responsibility. "I got us into this," he said. "Bad judgment is no +excuse. I was certain it would work out."</p> + +<p>"Would have, if Lazada had stayed home," Chahda said. "I go with Rick. +He drive, I shoot. Okay?"</p> + +<p>"There doesn't seem to be any alternative," Tony agreed. "Staying or +going makes little difference, so far as danger is concerned. All right, +Rick. We can create a diversion when they start to charge next time. If +we start the truck and roll it toward the village, I'm sure we can +create a little excitement."</p> + +<p>"That's smart," Scotty approved. "The truck would go right on across the +road, across the terrace, and tumble down. It wouldn't hit the village, +though. It would land on the next terrace."</p> + +<p>"I doubt that they'd think of that in the excitement," Tony commented. +"But take away the jeep and truck and you take away our good cover from +spears. We need an earthwork fort, quickly. All hands turn to."</p> + +<p>There were tools enough. While the Ifugao warriors argued among +themselves, and Nangolat, somewhat calmed down, tried to work them up to +a new pitch of excitement, the Spindrift group dug. Within a few minutes +there was a very respectable earthen berm across the front of the +recess. The riflemen could lie behind it and be reasonably protected +from spears.</p> + +<p>They were just in time, too. The Ifugaos were steadying down and +Nangolat had a spear in his hand once more.</p> + +<p>"I'll start the truck," Scotty said quickly. "Head for them, then jump +out, leaving it in first. Don't start the jeep until I'm moving. We +should be able to hold them off until you return in the Sky Wagon."</p> + +<p>Rick suddenly realized that the steel poles for the pickup cable were +with the gear on the truck. He reminded Scotty of the fact. "I'll snatch +Tony's loot right out of your hands," he said. "That will take some of +the heart out of them."</p> + +<p>"Or make them madder," Scotty added. They hurried to unload the truck. +Chahda checked his rifle.</p> + +<p>"Make or break," Rick said. "If I make it, fine. If not, that breaks our +chances down to zero. But I'll make it."</p> + +<p>Scotty ran for the truck cab, climbed in, and started the engine. The +Ifugaos stopped their yelling to look. For a moment they milled around, +uncertain, then Scotty threw the truck into gear and started directly +for them.</p> + +<p>Rick and Chahda jumped into the jeep. Rick started the engine and pulled +out the choke slightly to avoid a possible stall. Scotty leaped from the +truck, leaving the unmanned vehicle to bounce across the meadow directly +toward the ranks of the Ifugaos! They hesitated, then scattered—and +Rick stepped on the gas.</p> + +<p>He angled the jeep across the meadow, coaxing maximum speed out of it, +paying no attention to ruts or bumps. From beside him came the sharp +crack of Chahda's rifle. Once a spear passed overhead and dug into the +rice beyond.</p> + +<p>Then Rick slowed for the stone blocks at the edge of the meadow and let +the jeep climb over them to the road. A spear clanged off the rear and +another ripped the rear-seat cushion. Chahda fired one shot after +another, muttering to himself in Hindi.</p> + +<p>They were on the road! Rick gave the jeep all it would take. In his +rear-view mirror he caught a glimpse of Ifugaos pursuing him, of the +truck stopped at the edge of the meadow, then they were around the curve +of a terrace wall, free.</p> + +<p>Rick kept the accelerator to the floor except on the worst curves. They +climbed out of the valley, crossed the ridge, and emerged at their camp. +Pilipil was waiting. They slowed long enough to yell instructions to +strike the tents and cooking gear, and load them in the jeep and be +ready to leave on a moment's notice, then they drove down the mountain +at breakneck speed, with Chahda holding on for dear life. Fortunately, +they had to pass through only one gate, and the gatekeeper waved them +right through. They passed Igorot villages, narrowly missing chickens +and pigs, then bounced across a river bed and into Bontoc.</p> + +<p>The trip had taken one hour. The boys pulled up in front of the road +commissioner's office and ran in. De los Santos met them. "You are +excited!" he exclaimed. "Is something wrong?"</p> + +<p>"Very wrong," Rick replied. "We must use your phone. How do I get +Baguio?"</p> + +<p>"I will get it for you. Who do you want?"</p> + +<p>"The constabulary!"</p> + +<p>Santos looked startled, but he cranked the phone several times, talked +in Ilokano, and finally handed the phone to Rick.</p> + +<p>A voice at the other end said, "Constabulary detachment. Corporal +Alvarez."</p> + +<p>Rick said quickly, "We need help at Banaue. A party of Americans are +trapped by Ifugaos. Unless they get help quickly, they'll all be +killed!"</p> + +<p>Corporal Alvarez replied, "There must be a mistake. The Ifugaos are +peaceful."</p> + +<p>"Not any more," Rick yelled. "I just came from there. They're throwing +spears. They mean business!"</p> + +<p>Suddenly the corporal was unable to understand. Rick yelled, begged, and +threatened, to no avail. At last he hung up, defeated. "Something's +fishy," he said. "Very fishy. The corporal knew what I meant, I'm sure. +He treated it as a joke. Chahda, Lazada is behind this!"</p> + +<p>Santos coughed. Rick whirled on him. "What do you know about it?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, I assure you."</p> + +<p>The man was lying. Rick was sure of it. He grabbed him by the lapels and +said, "Talk. Talk! My friends may lose their lives unless we can do +something."</p> + +<p>Chahda took a hunting knife from his belt and put the point against +Santos' throat. "Talk," he said gently. "You have two seconds." He +pushed a little.</p> + +<p>Santos' light-brown complexion turned dirty gray. "All right," he +gasped. "I am a good man, but Lazada is my boss. I do not like what he +has done. Last night he stayed here, and I heard him talk to the +American, Nast. They laughed about how they had told the constabulary +that a group of crazy Americans were up here and would be calling them +with a practical joke, to which they should not pay attention. They told +the constabulary this both in Baguio and Manila."</p> + +<p>"And they believed him, because he is Assistant Secretary of the +Interior," Rick said bitterly. "Now what? We'll never convince them. He +couldn't order them not to help, so he planted a story that would do the +same thing. The only thing I can do now is call the American ambassador +and see if he can go through diplomatic channels to get help."</p> + +<p>"Take too much time," Chahda said. "It will be too late."</p> + +<p>Santos muttered in the native dialect.</p> + +<p>"What was that?" Rick asked sharply.</p> + +<p>"Filipino saying. 'What good is hay to a dead horse.'"</p> + +<p>"Wait!" Rick had a quick mental image of the Filipino officer who had +first spoken the phrase. Colonel Felix Rojas. He would believe the +story. Hadn't he warned them?</p> + +<p>"Get me Manila," Rick said. "Quickly. Constabulary Headquarters!"</p> + +<p>It took time. It seemed like an hour, but was only fifteen minutes. And +Colonel Felix Rojas was on the wire.</p> + +<p>Rick talked fast, telling the colonel the whole story, including +Chahda's espionage activities. When he had finished, Rojas said crisply, +"No time to get troops there. It will take planes. I will send a fighter +plane first. Then will come a platoon of paratroopers, if I can get the +Army to move fast enough. But it will be two hours before the troopers +can get there, even with the best speed possible. The fighter will be +there in an hour. Tell your friends to hold out. Return to Manila as +soon as your party is safe. See no one, talk to no one until you see +me."</p> + +<p>The colonel rang off.</p> + +<p>"An hour," Rick said. "And an hour after that before the paratroopers +arrive. Can they hold out?"</p> + +<p>"They must," Chahda said flatly.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>The Sky Wagon</h3> + + +<p>The Sky Wagon climbed out of the valley at Bontoc and Rick set a course +for Banaue. He took his pad and wrote a note to his friends, telling +them of his conversation with Colonel Rojas and of the trick Lazada had +pulled. He wrapped the note around a wrench and tied it with a piece of +string.</p> + +<p>Behind him, Chahda was busy with the bags for the cable pickup. He had +already removed the hatch. He tied the bags in two bundles and put them +in a handy place, to be tossed to the Spindrift group, then he got into +the seat next to Rick.</p> + +<p>"We pick up stuff, even though constabulary coming to rescue?"</p> + +<p>Rick nodded. "The plane can do nothing but scare the Ifugaos off. That +wouldn't prevent them from trying to capture the golden skull, anyway. +And even after troops land, that stuff is too valuable and too tempting. +Don't forget Lazada is on the scene. He could take over from the +troopers and they wouldn't dare say no."</p> + +<p>"True," Chahda agreed. "Better we get it. What you thinking about this +deal with Lazada? Why does Nangolat trust him? And what does he want?"</p> + +<p>"You told us the answers in Baguio," Rick reminded him. "Lazada told +Nangolat he couldn't refuse a permit—which we never got, by the +way—but that he would hinder us in other ways. Nangolat thinks Lazada +is his friend, all right. Lazada must have told him that our real plans +were to carry off the golden skull, probably to America. And why?"</p> + +<p>"Because Lazada wants Ifugaos to massacre us after we have located +skull," Chahda said. "That way, no witness. Dead men not telling stories +on witness stand. Then Lazada and Nast shoot poor Nangolat and take +stuff. Or something like that."</p> + +<p>"Nice people," Rick commented.</p> + +<p>The Sky Wagon was crossing the ridge. Soon they would be back on the +scene. Chahda got into the rear seat, ready to throw the message and +bags out through the access hatch.</p> + +<p>"Wait until I signal," Rick reminded him, and put the Sky Wagon into a +dive. He followed the road for a distance, then saw the truck and used +that for a landmark. As he flashed past the Spindrift refuge he saw that +the Ifugao warriors were in a semicircle around the edge of the meadow. +Apparently the siege was still on. Now to drop the message. He gauged +his distance and altitude. He wanted to be sure the message landed +within reach.</p> + +<p>"Get ready," he called, and circled until he was headed directly at the +recess. When a crash into the terrace wall seemed imminent he yelled, +"Now," and zoomed up into a screaming wing over. When he circled again, +Tony and Scotty were reading the message.</p> + +<p>The second time around, Chahda dropped the bags. Then there was a wait +while Scotty and Angel set up the pickup poles.</p> + +<p>The Ifugaos were obviously curious, nor were they the only ones. Rick +saw Lazada, Nast, and the rest of their party emerge from the village +and walk to a place on the terrace just beyond the meadow. They could +not be seen by anyone within the recess, but they could watch what was +going on in the meadow.</p> + +<p>Scotty knew that Rick could not make pickups while flying toward the +recess, so he was setting up the poles in such a way that Rick could fly +parallel to the terrace wall in which the recess was located.</p> + +<p>The pickup was very simple. Each bag was attached to a circle of cable +about eight feet in diameter. When ready for pickup, the bag was put on +the ground between the two poles and its cable was placed on angle irons +at the tops of the poles. The cable was not anchored. The only purpose +of the poles was to lift the cable far enough off the ground for +convenient pickup.</p> + +<p>Soon the first bag was in place and Scotty and Tony retired to the +recess to watch. Rick pushed a button on his control board and the cable +in the rear of the plane unwound. It was heavy, woven steel, terminating +in a weighted six-inch hook.</p> + +<p>Rick knew from many previous pickups the altitude at which to fly. He +circled for the run, dropped to the correct altitude, and glued the +plane's nose on the poles. The Sky Wagon passed over the poles, and the +hook on its cable caught the cable stretched between the poles. That +cable slid off the supports. The fast-moving plane took up the slack and +the bag of artifacts was jerked from the ground. A touch of the button +and the electric motor reeled it in. Chahda pulled the bag through the +hatch, unhooked it, and put it in the luggage compartment. They were +ready for another run.</p> + +<p>Tony had dug up enough stuff for seven bags. That was a lot of +artifacts. Each time Rick asked, "Was that one the skull?" And Chahda +would shake his head.</p> + +<p>The seventh bag was the skull. Rick was sure because of the +clasped-hands wave Scotty gave him, and because Tony did not retreat +into the recess. As Rick turned for his run he saw the sleek form of a +military plane slip past. Help had arrived. He sighed his relief and +held up his run to watch. The plane buzzed the Ifugaos and dropped a +container with streamers attached. An Ifugao—Rick thought it was +Nangolat—ran to get it.</p> + +<p>Rick could imagine what the note said. "Do not attempt further harm to +the Americans or your village will be bombed." Or some similar threat. +Nangolat might not like it, but he would obey.</p> + +<p>"Here we go," Rick said. He put the Sky Wagon on course and held it +steady. The poles passed from sight and there was a strong jerk on the +plane. That skull was heavy.</p> + +<p>"Bag tearing! Reel in!" Chahda yelled.</p> + +<p>Rick pushed the button and the winch whined, then suddenly screamed as +the load was released. Gone! The skull was gone! He swung in a vertical +bank just in time to see Nast lift the bag to his shoulder. Rick pounded +the seat beside him with helpless rage!</p> + +<p>The golden skull had fallen within reach of Nast and Lazada; it was in +the hands of the enemy. Rick swung in a tight circle and saw them run to +the station wagon and climb in.</p> + +<p>"They waste no time," Chahda said bitterly. "That Lazada, he move fast."</p> + +<p>"We'll never see that skull again," Rick muttered. "What rotten luck!"</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy's face tightened with determination. "We get that skull +back. Rick, fly to Bontoc. Open throttle wide and let us go!"</p> + +<p>"There's nothing we can do at Bontoc," Rick objected. "No one there, or +in Baguio either, would dare question Lazada."</p> + +<p>"Go to Bontoc," Chahda urged. "Leave this to me, Rick. Chahda will take +over."</p> + +<p>"But what can you do?"</p> + +<p>"I will know when the chance comes. You and Scotty will be ready. +Somehow, some place, we will get our chance—and the golden skull will +be ours again!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>The Nipa Hut</h3> + + +<p>Colonel Felix Rojas paced the floor of Tony Briotti's room in the Manila +Hotel. He was in uniform now, but his visit, as he made quite clear, was +not official. At least not yet.</p> + +<p>Rick had just finished relating the story of how the golden skull had +fallen into the hands of Lazada. "Can't you just go to him and demand +the skull?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Rojas smiled sadly. "If only it were that simple. Suppose two Malays +arrived at your Department of Defense and claimed that your Assistant +Secretary of the Interior had stolen a valuable Indian necklace from an +archaeological expedition. What would happen?"</p> + +<p>Rick knew perfectly well what would happen. "They would get thrown +out—if they could get anyone to listen to them in the first place."</p> + +<p>"Exactly. The situation is not particularly different, except that I'm +sure we pay more attention to Americans here than you would to Malays in +your country. After all, you owned us for nearly half a century."</p> + +<p>"You warned us," Scotty said. "Why?"</p> + +<p>Rojas shrugged. "I may as well be frank. I knew of Nangolat's visits to +Lazada. In fact, I was present at one meeting. And I knew that our +esteemed Assistant Secretary was hungry for that buried gold. If I could +prove some of the things I know about that man, he would no longer hold +public office. He would be in jail. My hands were tied, officially, but +unofficially I tried to warn you. I couldn't come right out and denounce +Lazada."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," Tony agreed. "We're grateful that you were able to say +as much as you did."</p> + +<p>Rojas nodded. "Let us continue. After you flew back to Bontoc, what +happened?"</p> + +<p>Rick picked up his tale. "Pilipil was on the mountain, waiting. We +dropped down and signaled for him to go to Banaue in the jeep, then we +landed at Bontoc and picked up the other jeep. Chahda became an Igorot +again. He took the jeep and started for Baguio right away, while I +stayed behind in Bontoc."</p> + +<p>"I don't get the point of that," Rojas interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Chahda intended to follow Lazada or Nast, whoever had the skull. They +were coming over the mountain in a fast station wagon, and there were +only two routes they could take—north to the Kalinga country, or south +to Baguio. We didn't think they would go north. So Chahda started for +Baguio, knowing that they would probably catch up to him before the jeep +reached the Baguio gate. They were in so much of a hurry that they would +not suspect an Igorot who pulled to the side of the one-lane road to let +them pass him, which would make trailing them easier."</p> + +<p>"Smart," Rojas said. "Then your friends arrived at Bontoc late that +afternoon, and you flew them back to Baguio, leaving Angel Manotok to +bring the truck."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Of course we paid off Pilipil, Balaban, and the Igorots who had +guarded the plane. Dog Meat rode back with Angel."</p> + +<p>"And you haven't heard from your Hindu friend since?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>Rojas picked up his cap. "I would like very much to find Lazada with +that golden skull in his possession. It would be a major service to the +Philippines, because it would give the Secretary and the President +positive grounds for his dismissal. I ask a favor. If you hear from your +friend, will you let me know?"</p> + +<p>"First thing," Tony Briotti promised.</p> + +<p>When the constabulary colonel had gone, the three washed up and went +downstairs. Tony was restless and Rick knew that he wanted to get to +work on the artifacts they had flown down to Manila. The Ifugao +treasure, minus the skull, was under guard at the university museum.</p> + +<p>"Go on out to the museum," Rick said. "You're so restless I'm beginning +to itch just watching you."</p> + +<p>"Same here," Scotty agreed. "Go on, Tony. We'll wait here for word from +Chahda."</p> + +<p>"I really would like to," Tony said. "Perhaps I will, if you'll let me +know the moment Chahda comes."</p> + +<p>The boys promised to do so and Tony departed. They found comfortable +chairs in the lounge and ordered fresh limeades.</p> + +<p>"Angel should be arriving with the truck tomorrow," Scotty observed.</p> + +<p>"Yes, with Dog Meat. Wonder if Chahda will be back by then?"</p> + +<p>"I wish he'd let us know where he is," Scotty grumbled. "For all we +know, Lazada may have captured him and tossed him into Manila Bay."</p> + +<p>A waiter approached. "Ask him where our limeades are," Scotty said. "I'm +thirsty. And I'm getting hungry."</p> + +<p>"Again? We finished dinner less than an hour ago."</p> + +<p>"It didn't seem like dinner," Scotty explained. "I can't get used to +eating when the sun is high in the sky. I don't care what time it is, it +should be dark when we eat. Now it's dusk and I'm hungry."</p> + +<p>The waiter bowed. "Phone call for you, Mr. Brant—or Mr. Scott."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Wonder who this can be?"</p> + +<p>"Chahda?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>"That would be too much to hope for. Besides, he sends notes whenever he +can. Doesn't like to phone."</p> + +<p>But it was Chahda. He gave them rapid instructions. Dress in dark +clothing. Meet him at Parañaque, a town to the south, just below the +airport. Hurry. Chahda hung up. He had obviously been excited.</p> + +<p>Rick and Scotty ran for their room. They changed clothes, then Rick +tried to phone Tony at the museum. There was no answer. Constabulary +Headquarters regretted that Colonel Rojas did not answer the phone in +his quarters. They would send a messenger to find him. Rick left the +message that he and Scotty were meeting Chahda, then the boys hurried to +the desk and left a similar message for Tony.</p> + +<p>A taxi took them to Parañaque. Like most small towns in the Philippines +it consisted of a cathedral, a market, a <i>botica</i> or drugstore, and a +few houses.</p> + +<p>They found Chahda in front of the cathedral. He was dressed Filipino +style in slacks and sport shirt, and his hair had been recut to a +modified crew cut-the only cut possible after the Igorot one.</p> + +<p>They dismissed the taxi. Chahda had the jeep. While he drove them +through a backwoods road, he told them his story. He had pulled off the +one-lane road to let Lazada and Nast pass just before he reached Baguio. +Following them had been no problem from then on. They went to a house on +the outskirts of Baguio, and by asking a few questions of the house +servants—after first loosening their tongues with a few pesos—he had +found that Lazada was proceeding on to Manila by car the following +morning.</p> + +<p>"There was a chance he might give Nast the skull to take care of," +Chahda admitted, "but I not think so. Lazada not the kind of man with +liking for letting gold out of his hands. So I go to barbershop, get +haircut, pick up clothes where I left them with a friend of Dog Meat. +Then I drive to Manila and stop at Malolos."</p> + +<p>That was a town to the north of Manila on the road to Baguio. Chahda had +pulled the same trick of letting Lazada overtake him.</p> + +<p>"He comes by, and Nast is with him," Chahda continued. "I am surprised, +because Lazada goes right to his house. I wait around nearly all day. +Cannot call, because no phone handy. Well, tonight he took black +limousine, and he and Nast come to Parañaque. He has skull. They go to +this little barrio where we going, and go into nipa shack. Lazada stays +there with the skull. Nast goes off in the limousine. So what I think?"</p> + +<p>"What do you think?" Rick asked.</p> + +<p>"I think Nast goes to get somebody, to bring them to Lazada. So I rush +off and call you. Before you came, I saw Nast go by. So now the meeting +is being held, and we must figure how to get the skull."</p> + +<p>Chahda reached forward and switched off the jeep's headlights. For an +instant it was very dark, then as Rick's eyes became adjusted to the +darkness he saw that the road was visible as a white pathway between the +rice paddies. Ahead were the lights of houses. They had reached the +barrio where the meeting was to be held.</p> + +<p>Rick looked around and saw that the sky to the north was aglow with the +lights of Manila. Then he saw a plane take off and realized that they +were only a short distance from the airport.</p> + +<p>Chahda pulled off the road into a patch of nipa palms, went through the +palms, and parked behind a feathery thicket of bamboo. "We walk to +shack," he said. He took a bolo from under the rear seat of the jeep and +tucked it into his belt.</p> + +<p>The Hindu boy led them a hundred yards down the road, then turned off +onto a path. In a moment he pointed.</p> + +<p>Ahead, alone in a clearing, was a typical nipa hut. It was built on +stilts in the traditional Filipino way, and there was room underneath +the supporting posts for a tall man to stand upright. The house itself +was square, with walls of woven thatch made from the nipa palm. The roof +was pyramidal, heavily thatched with layer after layer of straw. The +floor was of split bamboo, a single layer of springy bamboo strips as +wide as a man's thumb laid across a framing of whole bamboo supports.</p> + +<p>Except that it allowed mosquitoes to roam in and out and gave no bar to +lizards or snakes, it was ideal for the climate. The openwork floor +allowed the breezes to circulate through the whole house. Also, +housekeeping was simple. Dust couldn't gather. It just fell through the +floor.</p> + +<p>Filipinos had lived in houses like this for centuries, but the influence +of Western civilization was visible in the form of electric lights. It +was visible in another way at this particular nipa hut, too. Next to it +was a shiny limousine, the property of Irineo Lazada.</p> + +<p>Chahda whispered, "We get close. Be very quiet and follow me."</p> + +<p>It was dark enough. Chahda led the way, and Rick and Scotty followed. +There was little cover, but there was no guard outside the house. +Apparently Lazada and Nast felt quite safe. They did not know how +effectively Chahda had shadowed them.</p> + +<p>Chahda made his way slowly until they were beside the big limousine. +There was a murmur of voices from above, Lazada's predominating.</p> + +<p>Rick swallowed hard as Chahda left the limousine and and walked right +under the hut, but he and Scotty followed, scarcely daring to breathe. +It was dark and he almost knocked over a stack of wooden boxes. Then, +under the hut, there was light.</p> + +<p>Rick had not realized that the bamboo floor was nothing more than a +latticework of bamboo strips. He could look right up between them and +see the occupants of the room!</p> + +<p>There was Lazada, of course, and Nast. And with them were two Chinese.</p> + +<p>Nast was talking, "Don't you worry about delivery. If I say I'll get the +skull into Macao, I'll do it. You just worry about the price."</p> + +<p>Rick recognized the name of Macao. It was the Portuguese colony on the +Chinese coast just below Hong Kong. It had the reputation of being the +gathering place for smugglers, gun-runners, Chinese river pirates, and +equally unsavory folk.</p> + +<p>One Chinese spoke in sibilant, accented English. "The price you ask is +too much. The skull is worth its exact weight in gold, at fifty American +dollars an ounce. What do we care if it is a very old native religious +object? That has value only for an Ifugao, not a Chinese, and our +customers are not Ifugaos."</p> + +<p>Rick gasped. Lazada and Nast were intending to sell the skull just for +the gold in it!</p> + +<p>Lazada put his hand on a box that sat beside him on the floor. "The +customers you have usually want bullion gold, true. But perhaps you have +one very wealthy customer who could use a museum piece of great value."</p> + +<p>"If we could have the skull legally, yes. But it is the only one of its +kind. In a few days the press will have sent its description to every +city in the world, because its loss is a good news story. No one in his +right mind would buy such an object."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he's right," Nast said. "We'll have to settle for its value +in weight. But that's worth something."</p> + +<p>Chahda pulled Rick's sleeve, then Scotty's. The boys followed him from +under the house back to the edge of the clearing. He whispered, "See the +box? I'm sure that is skull. Now, you feel brave?"</p> + +<p>"What's your plan?" Scotty asked.</p> + +<p>Chahda drew his bolo. "Bamboo cuts easy. Two swings and box falls into +our hands. We run like wild men, they not catch."</p> + +<p>Rick objected. "The skull is too heavy. We couldn't run with it easily. +They'd catch whoever had it."</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. "And the box is too small for two people to get a good +grip on it. We'd fall all over each other."</p> + +<p>"Could be," Chahda agreed, but he was not convinced. He said that there +must be some way to get the box.</p> + +<p>Rick studied the house as though the sight of it might give him +inspiration. The house didn't, but something else did. "The purloined +letter!" he exclaimed suddenly. "Remember the story by Poe? No one found +the letter because it was in the most obvious place—so obvious that no +one looked." He whispered his daring plan.</p> + +<p>Scotty chuckled. "I'll even forgive you for biting me in Baguio, for +that one."</p> + +<p>Chahda salaamed. "Mighty is the mind of Rick. I glad you on my side. +Let's go."</p> + +<p>They sneaked back to the house and made preparations for the audacious +recovery of the box. Chahda tested the edge of his bolo, reached up with +it, and measured the length of his stroke and where the blade would +touch. It would work. He looked at the boys expectantly.</p> + +<p>Rick knew that bamboo was remarkable stuff. It had great strength +against nearly everything except a sharp blade applied across its grain. +But it had to be cut cleanly. Also, Chahda would have to make two cuts +before the box could drop through the floor. On the first cut, Lazada +and Nast would be moving. They could make it down the stairs before the +second cut was made.</p> + +<p>He shook his head at Chahda. Not yet. He motioned to Scotty and together +they examined the stairs, which ran down the outside of the framing. +Scotty gestured toward the boxes stacked at one corner of the house. +They examined them. The boxes were full of a special kind of sea shell +used commercially in the Philippines. They were fairly heavy.</p> + +<p>Working together, they piled a few boxes on the stairs. Anyone not +watching his footing might fall over them.</p> + +<p>Then Scotty motioned to a stack of bamboo poles just outside the house +pilings. He whispered, "You help Chahda. I'll use one of these." He +selected a long one about two inches in diameter and held it in both +hands like a lance. With Scotty standing beside the stairs, the pole +would reach almost through the door of the hut.</p> + +<p>Scotty nodded. Rick stepped to a position beside Chahda and nodded.</p> + +<p>Chahda flexed his muscles, wrapped his fingers tightly around the handle +of his bolo, spread his feet and swung.</p> + +<p>The steel blade hit the bamboo floor and sliced through, flying in a +great arc.</p> + +<p>There were yells from the men upstairs. Chahda swung again as running +feet made the floor vibrate. Scotty gave a wild yell and charged like a +knight attacking an enemy. The bamboo pole caught Nast in the stomach +and drove him back into the hut.</p> + +<p>The box containing the skull slid and caught.</p> + +<p>Chahda swung again, in desperation, and the box dropped through! Rick +caught it, and the weight would have driven him to the ground had not +Chahda given a hand.</p> + +<p>They rushed the box to its prearranged hiding place, then Rick gave a +piercing whistle. They ran, all three of them, in three different +directions.</p> + +<p>Chahda headed for the jeep. He ran quietly. Scotty headed south, yelling +as he went; Rick ran north, giving an occasional bellow. That was to +draw the pursuit away from Chahda, so he could get to the jeep +undisturbed.</p> + +<p>The pursuit had organized, apparently, because both Nast and Lazada were +barking orders. Rick kept yelling, but he was now in the brush. Scotty +was yelling, too.</p> + +<p>Rick pushed his way through the brush and emerged on the bank of a river +or estuary of some kind. Beyond, on the opposite bank, were rows of +wooden forms that marked the outline of salt pans. Water was let into +the square pools in the early morning, and by nightfall it had +evaporated, leaving its salt behind.</p> + +<p>For a tense moment Rick waited. Perhaps he was not being followed. +Perhaps they had followed Scotty. Then he heard the brush snapping and +knew they were on his trail. He had to keep going. He stepped into the +water and went right on until it was over his head. He spluttered, his +eyes stinging from the salt. The water was brine, already partially +evaporated and ready for the salt pans.</p> + +<p>A few strokes took him to the opposite bank. He climbed out onto the +salt pans, his clothes dripping and his shoes soggy. He ran.</p> + +<p>He was almost across the field of salt pans when a shot whistled past. +He bent low and ran faster, remembering that Nast carried a .38 in a +shoulder holster.</p> + +<p>The second shot was closer, but not close enough. He reached the field +beyond the salt pans and headed for a coconut grove about three hundred +feet ahead. The field was covered with a low-growing vine of some sort. +He floundered and tripped, then got to his feet again, looking back over +his shoulder. Apparently the pursuers were looking for a way across the +water. He couldn't see them.</p> + +<p>He reached the shadow of the coconut grove and stopped, glad of a chance +to wring out his clothes. He did so, a garment at a time, watching his +trail. In a few moments he saw two men emerge from a far corner of the +salt pans and start across. For a moment he turned to run, then an idea +struck him and he grinned.</p> + +<p>There was pretty complete darkness. He could see and be seen in the +open. But under the palms he would be invisible from a distance of +twenty yards. He need not run; he could wait until the pursuit passed, +then walk leisurely to the airport, get a cab, and go home. Chahda +probably was already there. He thought he had heard the jeep engine +start. Even if pursued, Chahda could get away all right. The jeep was +faster than the limousine on rough roads.</p> + +<p>Scotty's fate was less certain. If two men were after Rick, the other +two probably were after Scotty. They had scattered just for the purpose +of splitting the enemy forces, and to allow Chahda time to get the jeep +underway.</p> + +<p>As Rick watched, the two men reached the near edge of the salt pans. One +produced a flashlight and they walked along the edge of the salt pans +shining the light at the ground.</p> + +<p>Rick wondered. Surely they weren't looking for foot-prints. Both the +salt pans and the field were perfectly dry. He wasn't particularly +afraid of the flashlight. He would wait until they were close to the +palm grove, then move laterally away from them and lie flat on the +ground. The light couldn't pick him out from any great distance.</p> + +<p>The men walked slowly down the edge of the salt pans until they reached +the place where Rick had left the pans and entered the field, then, as +surely as blood-hounds, they followed the route he had taken.</p> + +<p>He stared, amazed. How had they tracked him? Then, suddenly, he knew. +Makahiya! The sensitive mimosa! The field was covered with it. And where +he had walked, the mimosa's leaves were rolled up tightly!</p> + +<p>Rick turned and ran through the grove, trying to be silent. He used a +beacon from nearby Manila Airport as a guide, and in a moment he saw red +lights on the other side of the grove. It was the field. They were +boundary lights.</p> + +<p>He saw instantly that he was in a bad spot. The only way to go was +straight ahead, across the open airport. He would be seen instantly when +his pursuers emerged from the grove, and from then on it would be a foot +race. There was nothing else to do but go on. He climbed over the +airport fence and started for the lights of the administration building +a mile away.</p> + +<p>To conserve his strength and wind he kept his pace to a dogtrot. He +crossed one paved strip and cast a look behind in time to see the +pursuers climb the fence. A yell told him he had been seen. He started +to zigzag, anticipating a bullet. His spine tingled and there was a +crawling sensation between his shoulder blades. But when the shot did +come it was such a wide miss that he did not even give an instinctive +duck.</p> + +<p>Somewhere down the line a big plane was getting ready to take off, the +pilot was checking his magnetos, revving up his engines. He searched for +lights as he ran and saw them over a mile down the field. It was a +Strato-cruiser, probably bound for America. Then he saw the runway ahead +and realized that it would be a race to see whether or not he got across +before the plane reached that point. The lights told him that the plane +was already moving. He lengthened his stride.</p> + +<p>He had a choice. He could stop and wait until the big plane passed, or +he could run for it and hope to beat it. If he stopped, it would give +his pursuers a chance to catch up.</p> + +<p>He ran faster, still breathing easily. But there were signs that his +wind was giving out. He cast anxious glances down the field. The big +plane was rolling, its engines roaring. He tried to gauge the point +where it would be air-borne, but it was too hard. It should be in the +air by the time it reached him, but he couldn't be sure. The runway was +only yards ahead now. He sprinted.</p> + +<p>The plane roared down at him. Then he was on the runway, realizing that +he would not be across in time. In sudden terror he threw himself flat, +just as the big plane lifted. The wheels were only a few feet above him +as it passed over.</p> + +<p>Then he was on his feet, running again, weak from the certainty of a +moment ago that he was done for. But the administration building was +only a short distance away now, and he found the strength to keep going. +He ran past astonished airport personnel, made his way through the crowd +that had come to see the flight off, and leaped into a taxi just ahead +of the Filipino gentleman who was about to enter.</p> + +<p>"Get going!" he panted. "Hurry!" The driver responded with a burst of +speed that snapped Rick back against the cushions. He turned and watched +through the rear window, but he couldn't see his pursuers. He had made +it!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>Surprise Package</h3> + + +<p>Colonel Felix Rojas fingered the eagle on one shoulder. "It took me +thirty years to become a colonel," he said. "If you are wrong, Colonel +Rojas will be Private Rojas by morning. You know that?"</p> + +<p>"If Lazada is at home," Rick repeated, "it will mean that he hasn't +found the golden skull. If he is not at at home, and doesn't come home, +it will mean that he has it."</p> + +<p>"You need not worry, Sahib Colonel. Rick has plenty bright idea. Lazada +will not find that skull, believe me," Chahda assured him.</p> + +<p>Chahda and Scotty had beaten Rick to the hotel, and had found both Rojas +and Tony Briotti waiting as a result of the messages the boys had left. +Chahda had gotten away easily, and he had lingered in Parañaque, parked +in shadow, until he saw Scotty go by. Then he had picked him up. When +Rick did not appear, they went to the hotel to wait for word.</p> + +<p>Scotty had ditched his pursuers easily by climbing a mango tree and +waiting until they passed. He was more at home in the woods at night +than any of them, including Chahda.</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti asked, "Does your father know what kind of chances you +take, Rick?"</p> + +<p>Rick grinned. "He's been along on a few expeditions, remember. He knows +we can take care of ourselves."</p> + +<p>"So do I, now. Colonel, I have faith in the boys' theory. I think we had +better go to Lazada's."</p> + +<p>Rojas nodded. "Even if it means being broken, the chance is worth it to +hang something on that man. Our republic is young. It cannot tolerate +men like him in public office. Without proof we cannot touch him, but if +the proof is there...."</p> + +<p>"It will be," Rick said confidently.</p> + +<p>Rojas picked up the phone and asked for a number. He got his connection, +gave his name, and asked for Captain Lichauco. To the captain he gave +orders. A platoon was to meet him at Lazada's in fifteen minutes. No +earlier and no later. Then he phoned Dr. Okola and requested that he, +also, be at Lazada's.</p> + +<p>"Now," Colonel Rojas said to the Spindrift group, "let us go."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later they got out of the colonel's car in front of Lazada's +house. A Sikh guard started to open the door for them, but Chahda +stopped him and spoke rapidly in Hindi. The guard replied.</p> + +<p>"He here, also car," Chahda said.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas consulted his watch. "We'll wait here."</p> + +<p>The minutes ticked by in silence until the headlights of a truck +appeared. The truck pulled up and a young captain got out of the front +seat. He saluted. Rojas gave his crisp orders in Tagolog, which the +captain relayed to the men on the truck. They climbed down with a +minimum of noise and went to surround the house.</p> + +<p>"Now," Rojas said, "let us visit Mr. Lazada."</p> + +<p>He pushed open the door and marched up the front stairs, the Spindrift +group close behind. At the top of the stairs the constabulary colonel +brushed aside a houseboy and strode into the living room where Lazada +sat with Nast. The two leaped to their feet.</p> + +<p>Lazada turned red. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas bowed. "I regret to inform you that you are under arrest +on charges of grand larceny, attempting to sell gold illegally, and +conspiracy to smuggle gold out of the country."</p> + +<p>Lazada snarled. "I'll have you broken for this, you fool! I don't know +what you're talking about."</p> + +<p>"I think you do. These American gentlemen have told me quite a story."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it. And whose word do you take? That of your countryman and +senior official, or the word of these foreign adventurers?"</p> + +<p>"Theirs," Rojas said. "I will accept from you the custody of a certain +golden skull, stolen by you from the Ifugaos."</p> + +<p>Lazada had recovered his composure. He chuckled. "I have no golden +skull. You are free to search, even without a warrant, Colonel."</p> + +<p>"Thank you. Please lead the way to your garage."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, but you will find nothing there but my car."</p> + +<p>Lazada led the way to the back of the house and down a flight of stairs +to a garage. If the sight of constabulary troopers with ready carbines +bothered him, he didn't show it. But Nast, obviously, was worried. He +kept casting glances at the boys.</p> + +<p>"Better give the colonel that shoulder gun you missed me with earlier +tonight," Rick told him. "You might hurt yourself with it."</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas held out his hand. "Give."</p> + +<p>Nast did.</p> + +<p>In the garage was the limousine. Lazada waved at it. "As I told you, +nothing here but my car."</p> + +<p>"And a golden skull," Rick said. He opened the trunk and reached in for +the box!</p> + +<p>Lazada screamed with sudden fear and rage. He leaped for Rick. He met +Scotty's fist and sat down, hard.</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas had been sweating profusely. Now, at the sight of the +golden skull, he took out his handkerchief, wiped his face, and smiled +contentedly. "We'll need a new Assistant Secretary now," he said +happily. "And we'll ship Mr. Nast back to America as an undesirable +alien. The authorities there will take him into custody."</p> + +<p>"Have you found it? Where is the skull?" someone called.</p> + +<p>Dr. Okola came running up the driveway, and with him, in immaculate +white linens, was Nangolat!</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>The group sat in Dr. Okola's office at the museum. Outside, constabulary +troopers were on guard. Inside, a fabulous collection of golden and +silver artifacts, dominated by the golden skull, received the admiring +attention of the Spindrift group, Colonel Rojas, Angel Manotok, and Dr. +Okola, with Nangolat as lecturer.</p> + +<p>When he had finished describing the various objects and their uses, the +Ifugao said, "And now, I must explain. I am here because I gave myself +up to Dr. Okola. He, in turn, will hand me to the police. I asked only +that I be permitted to examine the treasures."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti shook his head. "I don't understand. You're intelligent, +well-educated, and well on the road to becoming a scientist. Why did you +do it?"</p> + +<p>Nangolat's broad face was sad but composed. "How can I explain? I almost +killed my good friend Angel. I attacked innocent American scientists who +had no evil intentions toward my people. I goaded the young men of +Banaue into war against the wishes of their elders. It is only because +my gods watched over me that I do not have your blood on my hands. But +how can I explain?"</p> + +<p>His dark eyes pleaded for understanding. "You cannot know what it is to +an Ifugao or an Igorot. In America you respect your primitives—your +Indians. But here, we are just aborigines—primitive animals, eaters of +dog. We are sneered at and despised. To Americans we are curiosities. We +wear breechcloths and funny hats that we use for pockets."</p> + +<p>"Nangolat!" Dr. Okola exclaimed. "I never suspected that you felt like +that. I thought we had always treated you as we did any other student."</p> + +<p>"You were the ones who treated me as a man," Nangolat admitted. "You and +Angel. But when I worked with you in tracing down the golden skull and +what it meant to my people, something happened. The more we learned, the +more I resented the attitudes of the others, those who despise the +Ifugao as a dog-eating animal. I believed that in the golden skull we +had the proof that the Ifugaos were better than any of you, that our +civilization was older. I lost my civilization. I forgot my friends. I +could only think that here was proof of the greatness of the Ifugao, and +that the Americans were coming to take it away."</p> + +<p>"But we said that the artifacts would remain here," Tony Briotti +reminded him. "We told Dr. Okola that we would not ask permission to +take them out of the country."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I was worried. I went to Lazada, to plead with him to forbid +you to take them under any circumstances, and he told me that he was +helpless, officially. He said that the American Government would insist +on getting the treasures of my people, and that our own government would +have to yield because we need American financial aid."</p> + +<p>"Of all the rotten lies!" Rick exclaimed angrily.</p> + +<p>"Yes. But he was an official of our government and I believed him. Then +he goaded me. He said that only an Ifugao would allow such a thing to +happen, because the Ifugaos were less than men. Men would protect their +treasures. I was emotionally upset already. His goading drove me +berserk. I was truly mad. So, I acted as I did."</p> + +<p>"Tell them what happened at Banaue," Okola said gently.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Briotti convinced me that he was not trying to steal our treasure. +That is, he almost convinced me, and he did convince our priests. But +Lazada came, and he said the American ambassador was already demanding +custody of the treasure as soon as it was found. You know what happened +then."</p> + +<p>"We sure do," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>"Then the jeep got away, and later the plane came. We did not keep +attacking, because many of our young men had lost heart. They couldn't +see the sense of rushing into the muzzles of your rifles over some +treasure they knew nothing about. I had worked them up to the point of +attacking once, but I could not do it again. Then the plane dropped the +sack. We did not know what was in it, except that it must be part of the +treasure. Lazada carried it to his car. I followed and demanded the bag. +He said he had no bag, although it was in plain sight. He was smiling. +He said the plane got all the bags; he didn't have any. I saw at once +what he was doing. He was going to take the bag and pretend that he had +never seen it, and it would be the word of a group of poor Ifugao +natives against the word of a great official. I saw red. I reached for +him, and Nast struck me with his gun."</p> + +<p>Nangolat rubbed his head. "He knocked me out, and he knocked sense into +me. I walked to Bontoc and took the bus south. Now I am ready to be +punished."</p> + +<p>Rick was deeply touched by Nangolat's recital. He remembered how +favorably impressed they had been that first day, when they thought he +was Angel. "Speaking for myself," he offered, "I am grateful to Nangolat +for a warm reception at Banaue, and for an interesting visit to the rice +terraces."</p> + +<p>Scotty took the cue. "As for me, I haven't had so much fun in a fight +since that free-for-all at Canton Charlie's in Hong Kong."</p> + +<p>Chahda bowed. "I also represent ancient Asia people. Very grateful to +Nangolat for fine demonstration of how Ifugaos fight. Very different +from Hindu method."</p> + +<p>The three boys looked at Tony. He had suffered the most at Nangolat's +hands. Nangolat had tried to kill him, then had kidnaped him, and had +intended to take his head.</p> + +<p>Tony smiled. "And I am grateful to Nangolat for personally conducting me +to Banaue and for putting on such an interesting series of rituals and +dances."</p> + +<p>Angel Manotok went to Nangolat and took his hand. "Can a Filipino be +less of a friend than an American? It was too bad I fell on my head and +almost fractured my skull. How nice it was of you, Nangolat, to pretend +to be me so I would not lose face with the Americans by not appearing to +work for them."</p> + +<p>There were tears in the Ifugao's eyes. "What a magnificent group of +storytellers you are!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Rojas grinned. "Sounded like the truth to me, Nangolat. And if +anyone wants to know what kind of men the Ifugaos are, send them to me. +I led Mountain Province warriors against the Japanese. They attacked +tanks barehanded. They fought like fiends. They made me proud to be a +Filipino."</p> + +<p>Tony Briotti picked up the golden skull. "We have a lot of work to do, +Nangolat. We'll need your help. And all of us will have to testify +against Lazada."</p> + +<p>"Golly, that's right," Rick said. "What a nuisance that will be. We'll +have to wait around for weeks."</p> + +<p>"Not that long," Colonel Rojas promised. "This is one case that will be +tried in a hurry. But you will have to stay a while. You will my guests. +There's a lot of the Philippines you haven't seen. We might even be able +to stir up a little excitement for you."</p> + +<p>"No, thanks," Rick said.</p> + +<p>"Sorry," Chahda said.</p> + +<p>"Need peace and quiet," Scotty said.</p> + +<p>Tony laughed. "Don't believe them. They may stay quiet until tomorrow, +but I doubt it. What do you have in mind?"</p> + +<p>"I'd like to take them to Mindoro Island, south of here, to hunt +timarau. In case you don't know, those are water buffalo. They rate as +the most dangerous game animal in Asia."</p> + +<p>"Too exciting for me," Rick said.</p> + +<p>But in later years when the Ifugao expedition was mentioned, Rick, +Scotty, and Chahda always talked much more about the hunting on Mindoro +than they did about their encounter with the Ifugaos. And they were +prouder of the timarau heads in the study than of the Ifugao spears that +had been thrown at them and brought back by Angel as souvenirs.</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> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Rocket's Shadow</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Lost City</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Sea Gold</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">100 Fathoms Under</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Whispering Box Mystery</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Phantom Shark</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Smugglers' Reef</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Caves of Fear</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">Stairway to Danger</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Golden Skull</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Wailing Octopus</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Electronic Mind Reader</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Scarlet Lake Mystery</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="smcap">The Pirates of Shan</span><br /></span> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Skull, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN SKULL *** + +***** This file should be named 32270-h.htm or 32270-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/7/32270/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Golden Skull + +Author: John Blaine + +Release Date: May 6, 2010 [EBook #32270] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN SKULL *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + + + + THE GOLDEN SKULL + + A RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE STORY + + BY JOHN BLAINE + + +GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS +NEW YORK, N. Y. + +COPYRIGHT, 1954, BY +GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. + +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + +_Printed in the United States of America_ + + + + +[Illustration: _The Ifugaos, faces distorted with hatred and fury, +pursued them._] + + + + +Contents + + + I THE HEAD-HUNTER + + II MANILA AFTER DARK + + III THE GODS OF BANAUE + + IV INSIDE THE WALLS + + V MANOTOK THE MIGHTY + + VI CHAHDA CHECKS IN + + VII IGOROT COUNTRY + + VIII THE BONTOC ROAD + + IX IFUGAO COUNTRY + + X AMBUSH + + XI WARRIORS THREE + + XII THE IFUGAO VILLAGE + + XIII THE PEACEFUL PROFESSION + + XIV SIGN OF THE DRAGON + + XV UNDER THE DRAGON'S CLAWS + + XVI FLYING SPEARS + + XVII MAKE OR BREAK + + XVIII THE SKY WAGON + + XIX THE NIPA HUT + + XX SURPRISE PACKAGE + + + + +THE GOLDEN SKULL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Head-hunter + + +It was hot in the cabin of the freighter _Asiatic Dream_. The heaviness +of the tropical heat outside the ship penetrated through the steel and +flaking paint of the deck to turn the cabin into an oven. + +Rick Brant and Don Scott, stripped to their shorts, were oblivious of +the heat. They sat hunched over a three-dimensional chessboard, studying +the complex moves of their newest hobby. Now and then they glared at +each other, or paused to wipe the sweat from their faces or arms, but +otherwise they concentrated on the three-layer board and the chessmen. +The rivalry was intense, and had been ever since Hartson Brant, Rick's +distinguished scientist father, had introduced them to the game back +home on Spindrift Island. + +Watching them was Dr. Anthony Briotti. Clad in tropical tan shorts and +nothing else, he looked like a college athlete. Little about him +suggested that he was an archaeologist with an international reputation. + +Presently he rose and left the cabin, heading for the deck. He didn't +bother to say where he was going; he knew the boys wouldn't even notice. +On deck, Briotti leaned against the rail and peered ahead to where the +rocky fortress of Corregidor loomed at the mouth of Manila Bay. His +pulse beat faster at the sight of the famous island. He knew its +outline. He had commanded a destroyer during World War II. Even though +the faint light of a new moon showed only vague outlines, he recognized +the old Spanish prison rock below the overhang of Corregidor, and he +remembered that his guns had blasted at the Japanese from that very +point. + +Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow move fleetingly. He turned +but saw nothing. Then, because he was busy with his memories, he turned +back to the dim, haunting view of Corregidor and thought no more about +it. + +Below, Rick Brant moved his king diagonally across the three-dimensional +chessboard and said triumphantly, "Checkmate!" + +Scotty rose, drew back one muscular leg as though to kick the set into +the air, then grinned. "Had to let you win. Bad for morale to lose all +the time. Next time I'll teach you how to lose." + +Rick snorted. "You let me win like a mother bear would let me walk off +with her cubs. It's my remarkable intellect that won that game, and +nothing else." + +"Won by your wits, eh?" Scotty mopped his wet face. "And you only half +armed!" + +Rick shied a chessman at him. "Wait until we teach this game to Chahda." + +Scotty chuckled. "He'll probably beat us both at once, then we'll find +out he learned how to play from the latest edition of _The World +Almanac_." + +Chahda, their Hindu friend, had learned about America by memorizing an +old copy of the _Almanac_, and he quoted from it at every opportunity. +Since their first meeting in Bombay during the adventure of _The Lost +City_, the Indian boy had been with them on several expeditions. Now he +was to meet them in Manila to help them in their search for one of +ancient history's most fabulous treasures. + +Rick, a tall, slim boy, with light-brown hair and brown eyes, led the +way up the ladder to the deck. Scotty, bigger and slightly darker in +coloring, followed close behind. They walked toward the bow, searching +for Briotti, their eyes not yet accustomed to the darkness. + +Rick called, "Tony?" + +"Here by the rail," the archaeologist answered. + +The boys moved toward him, but someone--or something--moved faster. A +shadowy form sped past them, and Rick's quick eyes caught the flash of +light on steel. He yelled, "Watch it!" + +Tony moved, and a steel blade clanged off the ship's rail. Rick and +Scotty leaped forward, grasping for the shadow. The steel blade lifted +again. Scotty grabbed a wrist and twisted. The blade clattered to the +deck. Rick got his arms around a sweaty waist and squeezed, bracing his +feet to lift the man off the deck. Then an elbow caught him in the +Adam's apple and flooded his eyes with tears of pain. He loosened his +grip involuntarily and felt the man squirm free. Scotty yelled, "Get +him!" + +Tony Briotti swung a roundhouse right that missed and sent him sprawling +off balance. Then the assailant was on the rail, poised. Scotty lunged +for his ankle as the man dived cleanly out and away from the ship into +the dark water. The three rushed to the rail, watching for the swimmer. + +"Man overboard!" Tony's voice lifted in a shout that brought the crew +running. + +For a few moments there was confusion as the officers and crew tried to +find out what had happened, and then the searchlight on the bridge was +manned and its white beam cut the water. + +There was no swimmer. But off toward Bataan Peninsula the light +reflected from the patched sail of a _banca_, an outrigger canoe, +sailing toward shore with a bone in its teeth. + +A few moments later the three Spindrifters stood in the captain's +office, staring at a Filipino bolo, a long, slightly curving machete +with a square tip. Tony hefted it and shuddered. "If you hadn't +yelled--well, this thing landed right where my head had been a second +before." + +"If I hadn't said anything," Rick replied, "it wouldn't have been +anywhere near your neck. I put the finger on you by calling your name." + +Scotty snapped his fingers. "Of course! The guy must have been hiding, +until he heard us call. Then, when you answered, he knew you were the +one he was after, and he went for you." + +Tony stared, incredulous. "But why? I can't imagine why a mountain +Igorot would board the ship for the express purpose of killing me!" + +It was Rick's turn to stare. "How did you know he was an Igorot?" + +"Either an Igorot or an Ifugao," Tony replied. "I caught a glimpse of +his head structure as he jumped onto the rail. Besides, the haircut is +distinctive. It looks as though a bowl had been put on the head and all +hair removed that it didn't cover." + +Rick knew that an Igorot was a primitive native of the Philippine +Mountain Province. All of them had received a series of lectures on +Philippine ethnology from Tony before leaving home. The Igorots bore +roughly the same relationship to the regular Filipino as American +Indians do to the white American. Ifugao natives were much like the +Igorots, but with a slightly more advanced culture. They, too, lived in +Mountain Province, the objective of the Spindrift expedition. + +The trip had grown out of an earlier expedition to Kwangara Island in +the western Pacific. Dr. Anthony Briotti had helped translate the +tablets found in the sunken temple of Alta Yuan, and had discovered the +connection between the early people of the Philippines--of whom the +Igorots and Ifugaos were the descendants--and the white dragon +worshipers of Alta Yuan. + +One plaque from the sunken temple had described the Ifugao rice terraces +of Mountain Province in unmistakable detail, and also had described a +skull of gold which was said to have magic properties. + +Tony Briotti had been so enthusiastic about locating this fabulous +skull, and proving the connection between Alta Yuan and the Philippines, +that Hartson Brant, head of the Spindrift Foundation, had made +arrangements for the small expedition. None of the other Spindrift +scientists could be spared, so Tony Briotti had only Rick and Scotty as +assistants. Chahda was to join them in Manila. The boys thought that was +help aplenty. No other helpers were needed. + +"I don't believe it," Tony stated. "It is simply beyond possibility that +an Igorot could have boarded this ship with the express intention of +killing me. More likely, he boarded the ship to steal, thought he was +discovered, and headed for the rail where his banca was tied. I was in +the way. That's all." + +"No one saw the banca approach," the ship's captain said, "but of course +it could have. We've been traveling at only a few knots, and the banca +could have approached from the stern, thrown a line over the rail, and +tied up. Dangerous, but a clever native could do it. They're like cats. +Make fine sailors." He added, "Never heard of it being done before, but +there's no reason to think it was an attempt at murder. Thieves in the +Orient are willing to take long chances." + +Rick stared through the port at the lights of Manila. He was very +thoughtful. Let Tony try to brush the incident aside. He knew better. He +knew it in his bones. There was trouble ahead for the Spindrifters. + +He caught Scotty's worried frown, and he knew that his pal's thoughts +were the same. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +Manila After Dark + + +Out of the _Asiatic Dream's_ forward hold swung the sleek shape of an +airplane fuselage. Rick bristled with nervous energy as he watched. He +yelled, "Watch it! Take it easy with that winch!" + +Scotty patted him on the shoulder. "Take it easy yourself before you pop +a gusset. They're doing all right." + +Rick didn't take his eyes off the plane. "Okay. But if they drop it, +we'll hike into the mountains instead of flying in style. Hey, you! Lift +it! Lift it clear of the rail!" + +The plane was Rick's new Sky Wagon, a powerful little four-place job +that had replaced his beloved Cub, wrecked by saboteurs, as related in +_Stairway to Danger_. It had less than ten hours' flying time, and he +didn't want it wrecked by having a careless winchman bash it against +something. But in spite of his fears, the fuselage was lowered safely +onto the waiting truck, the wings in their crates were brought out, and +in a short time the boys were riding with the plane out to Manila +International Airport. + +The day was still young. The freighter had anchored off the Manila port +area during the night, berthing in the early hours. The Spindrift party +had checked into the Manila Hotel, and Tony, leaving the boys to +supervise the unloading and clearance of their equipment, had gone off +to the University of the Philippines. Now the crates of equipment were +in the customs shed waiting to be picked up, and the plane was en route +to the airport to be assembled. Everything was going smoothly, +except ... + +"Chahda," Rick mused. "Where do you suppose he went?" + +"The day I can figure out Chahda's comings and goings is the day I +polish my crystal ball and solve the rest of the world's mysteries. He's +probably off studying _The World Almanac_." + +Chahda had been registered at the Manila Hotel but had checked out three +days before their arrival. He had left no forwarding address and no +message. + +"He's probably somewhere in the Indian colony of Manila," Rick +speculated. "Quite a few Indians here, mostly Hindus. They call 'em +Bombays, Tony said." + +"He'll show up," Scotty said. "He always does. Wonder how Tony is making +out?" + +Tony had gone to see a colleague, a Filipino archaeologist by the name +of Dr. Remedios Okola. It was through Okola that arrangements had been +made with the Philippine Government for their expedition--or would be +made. Their permit had not yet been issued. + +"I didn't know they had a university here." Scotty added, "Until Tony +started writing to this Filipino scientist." + +"You should read the stuff Tony brought," Rick replied. "The Philippines +has a dozen universities." + +Scotty grinned. "Chahda is probably taking a course in one of them. +Getting a degree of D.D." + +Rick took the bait. "What? Doctor of Divinity or Doctor of Dentistry?" + +"Neither. Dean of Disappearances." + +Rick groaned. Still, it was true. Chahda was the most disappearing +person he had ever known. The truth was, as he well knew, Chahda loved +the dramatic. The little Hindu boy thoroughly enjoyed baffling his pals +with theatrical appearances and disappearances. Not that he did his +vanishing act just for fun, however. There was usually a good reason. + +Arrangements had been made by mail and confirmed by phone that morning +for hangar space at Manila International Airport. While giant +transpacific passenger liners landed or took off, and while the busy +twin-engined island hoppers of Philippine Air Lines kept the field +active, the boys assembled the Sky Wagon. + +Even allowing for Rick's pride of ownership, the Sky Wagon was a beauty. +It was painted pure white with a red strip along the fuselage. It could +carry four, plus a fair amount of cargo. It had flaps which permitted +slow landings and short take-offs, and it had retractable landing gear +and variable-pitch propeller. + +Under the rear seats was a special feature--a small hatch through which +a winch-driven cable could be operated. + +This was a typical Rick Brant labor-saving device. Back home, Rick was +the errand boy for Spindrift Island, an island off the New Jersey coast +where the famous Spindrift Foundation was located. Until he acquired the +Sky Wagon, his grocery shopping meant landing at Whiteside Airport, +hiking into town, picking up the groceries, lugging them back, loading +them in the Cub and flying back to Spindrift. + +Now he could phone in his order, get into the Sky Wagon, lower the +weighted cable, and swoop low over the grocery store, which was located +on the outskirts of Whiteside. The hook at the end of the cable snagged +another cable hung between two steel poles on the roof of the store. The +sack of groceries--it was a special strong canvas sack--were on the +cable and needed only to be reeled into the plane. + +It worked fine. The only trouble was that Rick had never collected eggs +intact. The shock of the pickup was a little too much. When he solved +that problem, he would make arrangements with the electronic supply +house in Newark to let him put up the same kind of rig. Eventually, he +hoped, he would get so efficient that he never would have to land on the +mainland except to deliver a passenger or to pay a personal visit. + +Rick and Scotty checked the plane over with the greatest of care, and +then Rick got in and started the engine. He let it warm up, watching his +instruments. Everything was fine. He motioned to Scotty, who was +watching and listening from outside. + +Scotty got in, and Rick taxied to the end of a runway. While he revved +up the engine, Scotty obtained take-off permission from the control +tower, and in a few moments they were air-borne, enjoying the sudden +drop in temperature. + +"First time I've stopped sweating in a week," Scotty said. + +Rick nodded and motioned to pump up the landing gear. The hydraulic +system worked on a hand pump between the two front seats. It was not as +satisfactory as a motor-driven pump, but it took no electric power and +used up no valuable weight. Besides, a few strokes on the pump did the +job. He leveled off at five thousand feet above the city. + +Below, the Pasig River cut the city in half. They traced the line of the +great wall around Intramuros, the ancient walled city, and they found +the white mass of the American Embassy across Dewey Boulevard from some +very modern apartments. They passed over the Manila Hotel, then saw the +ruins of infamous Fort Santiago. + +Inland, the land was lush green with high mountains rising in the +distance. To the north lay Mountain Province, and behind the screen of +mountains was their destination. + +There was still work to be done, so Rick reluctantly took the Sky Wagon +down again. It was in perfect condition; no need for further flight. + +They lunched at a modern drive-in on Dewey Boulevard, the split-lane +highway that runs along the edge of Manila Bay, then picked up their +crates of supplies at customs. This was a light expedition, so there +were only three crates. One held their camp gear and trail clothing. +Another crate held Tony Briotti's special tools and reference books. The +third held the most important object of the expedition--the Spindrift +Experimental Earth Scanner, called SEES for short, and further +abbreviated by the boys to a sibilant hiss. + +"How's the SS working?" Scotty would ask, and Rick would answer: "'Sfine +'scan be." + +The boys were old hands at expeditions and they had learned from bitter +experience about the number of unexpected things that can happen to +baggage, so in spite of some opposition from the hotel clerk, they +insisted on stowing the supplies in their room. This done, they got into +bathing trunks and cooled off in the hotel pool. There was nothing to do +now but wait for Tony--and Chahda. + +When they returned from their swim a message was waiting, brought by a +messenger from Tony Briotti. Rick read it, then handed it to Scotty. +They were to have dinner with Tony's colleague Okola, and an Assistant +Secretary of the Interior, a Mr. Lazada, at the latter's house. Dinner +was at ten. They were to arrive a half hour early, and wear dinner +jackets. + +"Dinner at ten!" Scotty was stunned. "It must be a mistake. No one could +live until that hour without food." + +The desk clerk overheard the comment and smiled. "Old Spanish custom, +sir. Many Filipinos follow Spanish custom." + +"Very fine for those who are used to it," Rick said. "But here's one +Americano who is not going to follow Filipinos who follow old Spanish +custom." + +"Two Americanos," Scotty corrected. "We will follow old American custom +of snack early, English custom of dinner at eight, and then Spanish +custom of dinner at ten. That way we get plenty chow, hey?" + +This exchange was for their own benefit. The clerk did not overhear +because they were hurrying to their rooms to change. + +It was not too early to get into dinner jackets. They hauled out what +Scotty called their "penguin rigs" and got into them. In spite of +feeling a little self-conscious, they looked brown and handsome in their +white tropical jackets with maroon bow ties. + +They found a table on the porch, looking out over Manila Bay and the +great field called The Luneta. By turning a little Rick could see the +traffic on Dewey Boulevard. Rick had never seen anything like it. +Apparently Filipino drivers were all mad at something, and all under the +impression that no other vehicles were on the road. Also, Filipino +drivers obviously had wild affection for their horns. They tooted +constantly. + +"The life of a pedestrian must be less than ten minutes in this town," +Scotty commented. + +"Pedestrians are nothing but the raw material for accidents," Rick +agreed. "Look at that!" + +Among the busses, the cars, and the jeeps that ranged the boulevard +trotted a half-dozen two-wheeled carriages drawn by tiny horses. These +were the _calesas_ of bygone days, still competing with Manila's +countless taxis for passengers. + +"We should hire two and have a chariot race," Scotty suggested. + +They had a sandwich and a cold drink made with _calamansi_, the pungent +small Philippine limes, then walked across the boulevard to where the +great wall of the old city rose high in the air. The wall was of huge +stone blocks, rising about four times the boys' height into the air. It +was perhaps twenty feet thick at the base. + +Within the walls there had once been a city of a hundred thousand +people, but it was there that in World War II the Japanese had chosen to +make their last stand. Most of the people of the city had been wiped +out, along with their Japanese captors, and of the ancient buildings +only a cathedral remained. The area had been bulldozed flat in most +places, and Quonset-type warehouses, called _bodegas_, had replaced the +ruined Spanish buildings. + +"Rick, look at this!" Scotty called, pointing to a fern-like plant that +grew near the wall. "Watch." He touched it and the leaves rolled into +tight tubes. "How about that?" + +A Filipino gentleman, immaculate in a white nylon suit, watched them for +a moment, then joined them. "The plant is strange to Americans, I think. +It is a sensitive mimosa. You have the mimosa in America, but not this +variety." + +"It's good of you to explain, sir," Rick said. + +"Not at all. In Tagalog, the plant is called _makahiya_. It means, +literally, 'I am ashamed when you touch me.'" + +"It's ashamed, so it closes up," Rick said. "That's charming. Tagalog +must be a picturesque language." + +The Filipino nodded. "It has a certain flavor. Allow me to introduce +myself. I am Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippine constabulary." + +Rick took his first good look at the Filipino and immediately recognized +the soldierly bearing and lean fitness of the professional soldier. He +introduced himself and Scotty. + +Colonel Rojas smiled. "The young men who are going to dine with the +esteemed Assistant Secretary tonight, eh? Welcome to our country." He +bowed and walked away, leaving them openmouthed. Then, as an +afterthought, he turned. "Surprised? Don't be. We are interested in +strangers until their intentions are known. Yours are above reproach." +His smile faded. "However, you may be interested in another bit of +Tagalog." He spoke briefly a phrase that seemed to be mostly vowels. + +"What does it mean?" Scotty asked. + +The colonel's eyes searched theirs. "What good is hay to a dead horse," +he said and walked away. + +The boys stared at each other. + +"A very good question," Rick said at last. The colonel had vanished into +the Manila Hotel. "Scotty, what good is hay to a dead horse?" + +"The deceased equine has little use for hay," Scotty said. "Obviously. +Was that a warning?" + +"I don't know what it was," Rick said. The phrase could have been a +warning, but of what? And how had the colonel known where they were +dining? He put the question aloud. + +Scotty shrugged. "Doesn't the constabulary come under the Department of +the Interior? Maybe Lazada told him. A colonel would be pretty high rank +in the constabulary; he could even be the commander." + +The Philippine constabulary had a long and distinguished history. It was +similar to a police force, but was a military organization. It was, Rick +thought, something like a cross between the American state militia, the +Texas Rangers, and any good state police force. + +"I'm snowed," Rick said at last. "The only thing I'm sure of is that he +wasn't looking for information when he asked what good is hay to a dead +horse. Come on. Let's start for Lazada's." + +The way led across busy Taft Avenue, named for the American president, +across the Ayala Bridge which spanned the Pasig River, and past Malaccan +Palace. The palace was the equivalent of our White House. In its time +Spanish, American, and Japanese conquerors of the Philippines had lived +there. Now it housed the president of the Republic of the Philippines. + +It was very dark by the time they passed the palace. They left the +street-lighted area and entered an area of old Spanish houses. The Pasig +River was very close. They could smell the water hyacinth which floated +endlessly down to the sea. + +The air was heavy with unshed rain. The boys had long since shed their +jackets and were carrying them. Now the heat seemed to push down on +them, muffling even the sound of their leather soles on the cobbles. +They passed a solitary street light and Rick read the sign. They were on +the right track. The hotel clerk's directions, obtained before they ate, +had been very good. + +"Almost there," Rick whispered, then wondered why he hadn't spoken +aloud. + +Apparently Scotty was feeling the same physical oppression because he +didn't comment on the whisper. + +The houses were two-story, old Spanish style, with much wrought-iron +fancy work. Few lights showed. Such houses presented only blank faces to +the street. The life inside them found its open air in secluded patios +in the rear. + +"We must be getting close," Scotty said. His voice was very low. + +Rick unsnapped his key ring. It had a pencil flashlight attached. He +shot the light over the house fronts, searching for a number. A +cream-colored lizard darted frantically out of the circle of light into +protecting darkness. + +"Two more numbers," Rick said. "Must be the house after the next one." +He flashed the tiny light ahead and froze as he saw the shape of a man. +Beside him, he felt Scotty tense. + +It was silly to stand frozen. Rick moved ahead, slowly, and the shape +took form. Turban, flowing tunic with sash. Fiercely whiskered face. A +Sikh guard. + +He breathed a sigh of relief. Sikhs--Indians--were noted for their +bravery and fighting ability, and they could be found in most cities of +the Far East, usually employed as private guards or police. + +The Sikh came to attention and Rick noted that he was rather small for +his race. Most Sikhs were big men. He had kept the light on the bearded +face, noting that the beard was neatly tied in the Sikh fashion. Brown +eyes stared unblinkingly. A hoarse voice said, "This ees house of +Meester Secretary Lazada. Please to enter." + +Suddenly the voice changed and Rick nearly jumped out of his skin. + +"Go right on up the stairs, meatheads. Scotty must be hungry. He always +is." + +Rick choked. + +"Chahda!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +The Gods of Banaue + + +Scotty reached out for the Hindu boy, but Chahda stepped nimbly aside. +"Not time for horseplay now," he said. "Or talk either. Houseboy will +hear. It important I stay under cover. You go up and eat. Later, if I +can, I will come to Manila Hotel. If I cannot, I will meet you in +Baguio." + +The boys knew better than to argue. They each punched Chahda +affectionately as they passed him, then Rick knocked on the door, which +was instantly opened by a Filipino houseboy. + +The houseboy led them up a steep flight of stairs into a huge living +room, sparsely furnished after the tropical fashion, but with exquisite +and expensive Chinese furniture of rosewood and teak. Tony Briotti came +to meet them, then introduced them to Dr. Remedios Okola and the +Honorable Irineo Lazada. + +Dr. Okola, obviously, had a great deal of Spanish blood in his ancestry. +He was tall and lean, with a deeply lined face and a magnificent +hawklike nose. His hair was iron gray. He wore black dress trousers and +an open-neck slipover shirt of a very fine, almost transparent, fabric +heavily embroidered down the front. The shirt hung outside his trousers +in traditional style. This was the _barong_ Tagalog, the native Filipino +costume. + +Where the Filipino archaeologist showed his Spanish blood, the Honorable +Irineo Lazada's face betrayed his Chinese ancestry. He was round of +face, and his eyes had the typical Mongoloid fold. He was dressed in an +expensive white sharkskin suit with a white American-style shirt and a +black tie. The tie was held in place by the biggest diamond Rick had +ever seen. He assumed it was real; no one would wear a phony one that +big. + +Lazada had a huge Manila cigar in one hand and a fan in the other. By +some feat of legerdemain he managed to shake hands with the boys without +letting go of either. + +"Come in, come in," he said genially. "Welcome to the Philippines. You +will have some refreshment? How about a coke?" + +That suited the boys fine. Lazada waved a pudgy hand and a slippered +houseboy appeared like a genie, carrying two iced glasses of coke. Rick +was not in the least surprised. He had had his favorite American +beverage in more unexpected places than this. + +Tony Briotti explained, "Dr. Okola and I just got here. We had a most +interesting day at the university. I was beginning to go into the +details of our expedition with Mr. Lazada." + +"Please continue," Lazada said expansively. + +Rick, who was sensitive to voices, had the impression that Mr. Lazada's +voice passed through a bath of highly refined oil before it emerged from +his thick lips. It wasn't exactly oily--just sort of overlubricated. + +Lazada alternately smoked and fanned. "You were telling me of Spindrift +Island. Am I to gather that you are the only Spindrift scientist on this +expedition? And that these young men just came for the voyage?" + +"By no means." Tony set Lazada straight. "Rick is our pilot and +electronics technician. Scotty is mechanic and camp manager." + +"Pilot?" Lazada looked surprise. + +Dr. Okola hastened to explain. "I neglected to tell Mr. Lazada that you +are bringing your own plane. Of course, sir, permission was obtained in +advance from the Philippine Aeronautics Authority." + +"A helicopter, of course," Lazada said. "Nothing else would be of value +in Mountain Province. The only air-field is at Baguio." + +"It's a four-place Sky Wagon," Rick said. "We hoped there might be some +suitable landing places." + +Lazada shrugged. "Perhaps there are, but they are not regular airports. +Planes do not fly in that country. Both the mountains and the weather +are dangerous." + +"Might it not be possible for them to land on the roadway at Bontoc and +then go over the mountains to Banaue by truck?" Dr. Okola asked. + +"Perhaps." Lazada didn't seem too optimistic. "Exactly where do you +expect to find this golden skull?" He added, "I can tell you more about +the transportation you will need when I know that." + +"We only know that it should be somewhere among the rice terraces," Tony +Briotti said. "I realize that they cover entire mountainsides. That is +why we came prepared to stay for some time if need be. There is so much +territory to cover with our equipment!" + +"Many square miles," Lazada agreed. "What is the expression? A needle in +a haystack? Surely you must have some kind of clue." + +"Just one," Dr. Okola said. "A dragon. Isn't that so, Dr. Briotti?" + +Tony nodded. "That's what the translation of the Kwangara Island +artifacts said. The dragon is supposed to be guarding a cache of +religious objects, including the golden skull and other gold objects." + +"You mean a gilt skull, of course," Lazada said. + +"No, the description was quite clear. A skull of metallic gold." + +"A miniature, probably." + +"No, sir. The skull is actually larger than life size." + +Lazada stopped slouching in his chair. "Incredible!" + +Dr. Okola spoke up. "After all, Mr. Secretary, gold is mined right here +in the Philippines. In Mountain Province, in fact. And it is found in +many other parts of Asia." + +Rick had a strange feeling as he watched Lazada's face. The Assistant +Secretary seemed to be licking his lips, although he wasn't actually +doing so. It was almost as though Lazada was doing sums in his head.... +Gold is heavy.... It would take a lot of gold to make a life-size skull, +even a hollow one.... Gold is worth thirty-five dollars an ounce, +legally. If smuggled into China, it would bring twice that.... + +"Tell me more of this dragon," Lazada invited. + +Tony was glad to oblige. Next to actually working at his profession he +enjoyed talking about it. "The dragon is of the greatest importance +throughout the culture of the East. We followed its trail from the great +temple of Ankor Vat in Cambodia all the way to the sunken temple of Alta +Yuan." + +Rick remembered vividly. He had been at the controls of the Submobile, a +hundred fathoms under the waters of the Pacific, when the first Alta +Yuan dragon came to light. + +"The dragon was the incarnation of the chief god of the Alta Yuan +people. When an earthquake sank the temple, the people of the island +lost their gods. When we hauled the dragon back up and gave it to them, +nothing was too good for us." He paused. "By 'we' I mean the Spindrift +scientists. I was not among the lucky ones, since I had not yet joined +the Spindrift group." + +Okola shared Tony's excitement over the Alta Yuan find. "I, too, was +very much interested in that expedition. And when I heard that the +artifacts brought from the bottom of the sea provided a possible +connection between the Philippines and that ancient culture, you can +imagine my excitement." + +Rick could see that Lazada could not possibly imagine so much excitement +over an archaeological find, but was too courteous to say so. + +"Then finding a similar dragon among the rice terraces would show a link +between our country and the ruins of Ankor Vat?" Lazada asked. + +"Exactly," Tony replied. + +Lazada rose. "Dinner is ready. Let us continue our discussion at the +table." + +They went out to a balcony which overlooked a garden at the rear of the +house. A table set with the finest Chinese linen and delicate Siamese +silverware was waiting for them. Houseboys waited to serve them. Over a +dinner of broiled giant prawns, meat-stuffed rolls called _lumpia_, and +whole barbecued suckling pig called _lechon_, they continued their talk +of the expedition. + +"What is the significance of the golden skull?" Lazada asked. + +"I did not know until today," Tony answered. "I found out from my +esteemed colleague here. He has been doing some very hard work on it. +Will you answer, Dr. Okola?" + +The Filipino archaeologist looked pleased, but he hastened to say, "The +credit is not mine alone. I had the invaluable assistance of one of my +graduate students, who is himself an Ifugao. A brilliant young man. Next +week I am attending a celebration at his home, in honor of his becoming +an assistant professor at the university." + +"I'm sorry I didn't meet him," Tony Briotti said. "Did you mention his +name?" + +"Nangolat. However, Mr. Lazada asked about the significance of the +golden skull. We were able to uncover a story about it among the many +Ifugao myths, a story of which I had not been aware until Dr. Briotti's +letters put me on the track. You realize that the Ifugao religion is +rich in myths. It is a very complicated religion with over a thousand +gods." + +Scotty whistled. "They must have a god for nearly everything they say or +do." + +"Just about," Dr. Okola agreed. "Even their universe is divided into +five regions. There is the known earth, _pugao_; the sky world, +_kabunian_; the region downriver, _lagod_; the region upriver, _daiya_; +and the underworld, _dalun_." + +"What river?" Rick asked. + +"Any river on which they happen to live," Okola answered. "No one knows +exactly what the original river of the Ifugaos might have been. You see, +they are immigrants. They came from the Chinese mainland, but we don't +know exactly when, or whether their original home was China. Perhaps we +will find out that it was Cambodia. We do know that their miraculous +rice terraces were started at least two thousand years ago." + +"That makes them almost as old as the pyramids!" Scotty exclaimed. + +"Quite right. The whole culture is quite astonishing. We think of them +as primitive people, but their history is more complex than our own. +However, we are speaking of heads. Heads have always been of the +greatest religious importance to the Ifugaos. They have been +head-hunters for religious and economic reasons for centuries. First +America, and then the Republic of the Philippines tried to stamp out the +custom. In general, we have succeeded. There is little or no +head-hunting now--so far as we know." + +Lazada grunted. "The mountains are difficult to police. I doubt that we +know all that goes on. I wouldn't be surprised if a head wasn't taken +now and then. After all, the Ifugaos got the heads of two American +professors only a few years ago." + +"The murders were for religious reasons," Okola explained. "Sacrifices +were needed for the rice crop. The unfortunate professors were on a +hiking trip, and they happened along at just the wrong moment." + +Rick remembered newspaper reports of the incident. It had attracted +world-wide attention. The Ifugao natives responsible had been captured +by the Philippine constabulary, tried, and punished. + +Okola continued, "We have traced back a thread through the complicated +maze of Ifugao myths. The thread leads to a legendary hero--the +leader-god who led the Ifugaos to the Philippines. The golden skull was +originally his own, turned to gold by the very power of the hero's +magic. After his death, of course. At first it was an ordinary skull, +then it turned to gold." + +"Then the skull has something to do with head-hunting?" Rick asked. + +"Indeed it does. It is apparently the chief object to which heads are +sacrificed--or was, before it was lost. The golden skull is _almaduan_, +the very soul stuff of the Ifugaos." + +"How was it lost?" Scotty inquired. + +"In a war," Okola said, quite seriously, "between the _kabunian_, the +gods of the sky world, and the _dalun_, the gods of the underworld. The +_dalun_ won. They took the head and disappeared into the ground +somewhere in Banaue. Behind them, they left a great taboo. If an Ifugao +tries to follow them into the underworld to reclaim the skull, great +misfortune will come. An earthquake will destroy the terraces. The +people will starve. They will be haunted by the _dodingerot_--ghouls who +dwell in tombs and bite the faces of intruders." + +"Then the Ifugaos will take a dim view of our hunting their golden +skull," Rick guessed. + +"They might if they knew about it," Dr. Okola said. "Actually, what I +have just told you is almost forgotten lore. I doubt that the Ifugao man +in the street--or, properly, man in the rice terraces--has ever heard of +it. A few old priests may remember." + +Irineo Lazada clapped his hands and rose. "Coffee in the living room, +gentlemen. You know, I begin to have some hope for this golden skull. I +had not really taken your expedition seriously until Dr. Okola's +recital." + +Tony Briotti picked him up quickly. "Then that is why you have failed to +issue our permit?" + +Rick stopped in his tracks. Was there trouble about their permit? He had +wondered about the reason for this dinner with the Assistant Secretary +of the Interior. Perhaps it was to persuade him. + +Lazada smiled. "The government doesn't want to stir up trouble among the +mountain tribes. We do not have enough constabulary for police duty in +the mountains. A small detachment at Baguio is the best we can do." + +"I assure you that we will not stir up trouble," Tony Briotti said. + +"Of course not. And so I will issue your permit." + +"Thank you, Mr. Secretary," Dr. Okola said. "This will mean a great deal +to the Philippines. Dr. Briotti assures me that Spindrift will not ask +for anything to be removed from the islands. The golden skull, if it is +found, will remain right here, perhaps at the university's museum." + +"Such a treasure would need to be well guarded," Lazada chuckled. "We do +have thieves in the Philippines, as does every other country." Again he +seemed to be licking his lips without actually doing so. + +Over a second cup of coffee they laid their plans. Lazada would instruct +the district road commissioner at Bontoc to co-operate with them in +every way, since that official came under his jurisdiction. Through the +district commissioner they could hire any laborers they might need. The +commissioner also would arrange for Rick's plane to land on the highway +at Bontoc when necessary. Since there was little traffic, landing would +present no real problems. They could use the district office at Bontoc, +and make it their headquarters. + +Dr. Okola sighed, "I can't tell you how sorry I am that you come in the +midst of a school seminar. If you are still searching at the end of next +week, I will join you. But until then, it will be impossible." + +"But you will send us a good guide who knows the area," Tony reminded +him. + +"Yes. He will be at your hotel in the morning. His name is Angel +Manotok, and you can trust him with no hesitation. He speaks Igorot and +Ifugao, as well as the Filipino dialects of this region. He can drive a +truck, and he can cook reasonably well." Okola pronounced the man's name +in the Spanish way, "Ahng-hel." + +"Sounds like a handy guy to have around," Scotty remarked. + +"Yes," Rick agreed. "Besides, it's nice to have an angel in the party." + +The hour was late. The boys and Tony Briotti bade good night to Lazada +and Okola, refused the offer of another coke but accepted a ride back to +the hotel in Lazada's car. As they left the house the boys looked for +Chahda. There was a Sikh at the gate, but he was a big man. Chahda was +not in sight. + +Lazada's car turned out to be a brand-new Cadillac with a special maroon +paint job and a monogram about four inches square on every door. +Evidently the Assistant Secretary believed in personal advertising. + +They were tired. The ride back to the Manila Hotel was made in silence, +except for a brief report to Tony that all was in readiness for the trip +to Baguio on the first leg of their journey. + +At the hotel desk they picked up their room keys. The boys had one room, +Tony another. The rooms were on the second floor, so they walked +upstairs instead of bothering with the slow elevators. + +"Good night, boys," Tony said wearily. He inserted his key and swung the +door open, then stiffened as a crash sounded in the room. Rick and +Scotty snapped out of their weary haziness and leaped into the room +behind Tony in time to see a figure dive headlong from the window. + +Rick yelled in horror. They rushed to the window, expecting to see the +man dead on the ground below. Instead, they saw him swing lightly from +the branch of a flame tree and drop to the ground. He ran across Dewey +Boulevard and was lost in the darkness under the walls of Intramuros. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Inside the Walls + + +"The fire escape!" Scotty yelled. + +Rick was with him on the instant. They ran to the end of the corridor, +threw open the door, and dashed down the fire escape. No word passed +between them as they crossed Dewey Boulevard. At a time like this their +teamwork was automatic. + +They reached the walls of Intramuros, and Scotty went left, Rick right. +Somewhere along the walls, or within the city, was the intruder. The +question was, Had the intruder kept right on going across the walled +city, or was he in hiding, waiting to see whether or not he was being +pursued? If the former, their chances of catching up with him were +almost zero. + +Rick rounded the corner of the wall and had a clear view all the way +down to the Department of Commerce building nearly a half mile away. +There were sufficient street lights to show him that the quarry was not +in sight. + +He saw a breach in the wall a few yards away and hurried toward it. +There was almost no light within the walled city, he suspected, but he +would have to look. The breach turned out to be a pile of rubble. He +would have to go over the wall unless he wanted to search for an +entrance. There wasn't time for that. He climbed up the pile of rubble, +careful about his footholds, and gained the top of the wall. For a +moment he was silhouetted at his full height. + +And in that instant a rifle cracked. He saw the muzzle flame, and in the +next instant he heard the soft smacking sound of the slug as it went +past his ear. There was only one thing to do. He jumped. + +The wall was high, and he had no way of knowing what was below, but it +was better to risk unknown rubble than another shot from the sniper's +gun. + +He landed with knees flexed, struck level ground, but fell forward with +the momentum of the fall. Thorns dug into his hands and he smothered a +grunt of pain. He lay where he was, not moving, waiting for some move +from the sniper and for his eyes to adjust themselves to the dense +blackness within the walls. + +He wondered whether the sniper and intruder were the same man. The +intruder had carried no rifle when he went out the hotel window. But it +was possible that he had cached one somewhere under the wall. + +What could the man have been after? Rick rejected the idea that this was +common thievery. It was possible, but not probable. Especially after the +attack on Tony Briotti aboard the boat. And after finding that Chahda +had gone underground and was posing as a Sikh. + +He was sure something was cooking that boded ill for the expedition. Nor +did he have to rack his brains to find the cause. A golden skull was +reason enough. Mass murder had been committed for less gold many times +before this. + +His eyes searched the darkness, and his ears strained for the slightest +sound, but no movement or noise followed. Yet, unless the sniper were +the world's most silent walker, he could not have slipped away. + +And where was Scotty? + +Again he pondered the mystery of Chahda. The Hindu boy had been +registered at the Manila Hotel, waiting for the Spindrift party. Then, +three days before their arrival, he had checked out and gotten a job as +a guard at Lazada's. The disguise didn't cause Rick much wonderment. +Sikhs, after all, are Indians, and Chahda had once worked for a Sikh +officer in the Bengal Lancers. Rick remembered that from an incident +during the Tibet expedition. It was probable that Chahda had simply gone +to the chief Sikh in Manila--there was always such a leader--and +enlisted his aid. + +But why? + +Rick tensed, sensing a presence near him. He raised on one elbow and +thought he discerned a figure nearby. The figure was close to the wall. +He had a hunch that it was Scotty, but he couldn't be sure. He made no +further movement, waiting to see. + +The figure became clearer, passed close in front of him, and from his +low vantage point the man was silhouetted against the sky, which had a +pink glow from the myriad neon lights of downtown Manila. No doubt of +it, the figure was Scotty's. Rick got to his feet, and staying close to +the wall, moved in the same direction Scotty had taken. + +The inner ground of the walled city was fairly clear, but close to the +walls there was considerable debris. Rick proceeded carefully, trying +not to make a noise. He picked his way through tangles of weeds and +wire, loose stone, and piles of junk that had been accumulating since +the days of the Spanish conquistadors. + +He was tense, and his face was wet with sweat. There was a possibility +that the sniper was gone, but if not, a noise could bring a lethal slug. +Rick thought grimly that the ancient walled city probably had seen many +a murder in the more than three hundred years since the wall had been +built. He had no desire to be the most recent victim. + +Even as the thought crossed his mind, his foot struck the edge of a +twisted sheet of steel. The sheet, all that remained of a Japanese +armored car, rang dully. + +Instantly the rifle flamed. The slug smacked into the stone wall a foot +from Rick's shoulder. He didn't wait for the next shot. He hit the +ground, scuttled a few feet, and stopped in a thorny patch. He grimaced +and risked wiping the sweat off his brow. At least one question was +answered. The sniper had not left. + +Rick knew that the mysterious rifleman could have gotten away before +this. The fact that he was still lying in wait could mean only one +thing. He had known he was being pursued by the Spindrifters, and he had +waited in the hope of picking off one or two of them. + +Fingers of ice laid themselves across Rick's spine. It was no fun being +the object of deadly intentions. He lay very still. + +His hand brushed something soft among the thorns, and he thought he knew +what it was. He was lying in a patch of the tiny pink flowers known as +_cadena de amor_--chain of love. He had seen them everywhere during the +day. They grew like weeds anywhere they were allowed to flourish. + +The humor of it touched him. How romantic his sister Barbara would think +it--to be trailing a desperado through an ancient Spanish city, and to +be flat on one's stomach in a patch of chain of love. If he got out of +this with a whole skin, he would write her about it, omitting such +unpleasant facts as rifle bullets striking too close and thorns among +the flowers. + +But unless he did something about it, he probably would still be lying +there at dawn. He rose to his knees, then to his feet, holding his +breath until lack of response from the rifleman told him he had not been +observed. Then he resumed his slow march in the direction Scotty had +taken. + +All guidebooks to the Philippines mentioned the walled city as a +"must-see" item for tourists, and Rick had intended to take a daytime +tour. This was not a suitable substitute. He would still have to return +by day. He moved on, with extreme caution. He could see nothing but the +upper edge of the wall and the silhouette of the ancient cathedral a few +hundred yards away. But movement of air, a slight thinning of the +darkness, told him when he passed openings in the thick wall. + +Suddenly he stopped, all senses alert. He had heard something. As he +waited, muscles rigid with the strain of listening, he heard a whisper +no louder than the rustle of a moth's wing. + +"Rick?" + +"Yes," he breathed. + +Even though he was expecting it, he gave an involuntary jump when +Scotty's hand touched his sleeve. Scotty's lips touched his ear and the +husky ex-marine whispered almost inaudibly: + +"Gate to the street. Ten paces ahead. I have an empty gasoline drum. +Going to throw it. If he fires and is close enough, rush him. If not, +make for the gate. Can't stay here all night." + +Rick found Scotty's shoulder and squeezed it to indicate agreement, then +he crouched low, ready to move like a plunging fullback in any +direction. + +Scotty moved away. In a moment Rick heard the faint scrape of metal on +stone. He filled his lungs with air, then held his breath, waiting. + +He sensed rather than saw Scotty lift the gas drum over his head. Even +when empty, gas drums weigh quite a bit, but Scotty launched it like a +medicine ball. Rick saw it briefly, a cylindrical shadow against the +sky, then it landed with an appalling clatter, struck sparks from a +stone, and rolled noisily away. + +The rifle flamed one, twice. It was perhaps twenty paces away, and the +shooting was toward the drum. Rick rushed forward, arms outstretched. He +heard a slap like a baseball hitting a glove, then a cry of pain. The +rifle blasted again, muzzle skyward. + +Rick thought he heard a siren wail, but there wasn't time to wonder. He +sprang headlong toward the rifleman. His shoulder struck flesh which +yielded. Then warm metal touched his hand and he grabbed for it. The +rifle barrel! He leaned on it, keeping it vertical, and put his weight +into the job of driving its owner back off balance. + +A blow caught him under the eye and he saw stars. For a moment he +relaxed his grip, then he released the rifle and reached until he found +cloth. He pulled, letting himself go backward as the wearer of the cloth +was pulled off balance. He landed on his back, and a knee in the chest +drove the air out of him. He rolled sideways, fists driving out. One +connected and the shock of hitting bone ran through his knuckles and up +his arm. + +A heavy weight landed on his stomach and he grunted, trying to roll out +from under. Again his fist lashed out and connected. He drew it back for +another punch. + +Brilliant light illuminated the scene. Rick blinked in the glare and saw +Scotty's grim face above him. Scotty had his fist cocked back for a +punch that would have knocked him colder than a raspberry popsickle. + +"Hold it," Rick grunted. Scotty was forcing the air out of him by sheer +weight. + +Running feet pounded the earth and hands jerked both of them to their +feet. Scotty held the sniper's rifle, but the sniper was gone. + +A Filipino policeman looked at them over the sights of a .45 caliber +Colt automatic. Even in the reflected lights of the prowl car's head +lamps, the muzzle looked only slightly smaller than the entrance to +Mammoth Cave. + +Rick's hair lifted. "Put that thing down!" he gulped. + +"Officer," Tony said crisply, "these are the two boys from my party. +They were chasing the burglar." He added, "Apparently they succeeded +only in catching each other. What in the name of an Igorot icebox were +you two trying to do?" + +The boys looked embarrassed. "We had the sniper," Rick explained. "But +we must have got tangled up. I thought the man with the rifle was the +burglar, but it was Scotty." + +"He threw the rifle at me," Scotty said. "I reached for him, swung on +him and connected, then the rifle knocked me down." + +The policeman's running mate came back from a search of the darkness. He +spoke to his companion in Tagalog. + +"No use," the first policeman said. "He is gone. We would need help to +find him, since the walled city is big and has many hiding places. Can +you give a description? By the time help came he could be miles from +here. Perhaps we can get him later." + +Rick knew how hopeless that was. + +"Unless the boys got a better look," Tony Briotti said, "the only thing +I can say is that he was either an Igorot or an Ifugao. Short and +muscular. I saw his haircut--couldn't very well miss it. But not his +face." + +Rick and Scotty hadn't even seen that much. An Igorot or Ifugao? +Probably the latter, since their expedition was connected with the +Ifugaos and not the Igorots. Rick remembered the incident on the +freighter. There was a pattern to this.... + +"I will be the one to take the rifle," the policeman said. + +Rick wondered at the strange flavor of the phrase. But he was to hear it +many times while in the Philippines. "I will be the one...." It was a +literal translation from the Spanish. + +"I will be the one to take the names," the second policeman said, +opening his notebook. "You will have to make charges." + +"No use," Tony replied. "Let's forget the whole thing. We'll never catch +up with the man, whoever he was." + +Nevertheless, the police insisted on names and histories, and it was ten +minutes before the Spindrifters made their way back to the hotel. In the +main dining room they talked over cups of hot chocolate, ignoring the +curious stares of late supper guests who obviously wondered about Rick +and Scotty's disheveled condition. + +Since the boys had not wanted to discuss their personal business in +front of Lazada's chauffeur there had been no chance to tell Tony about +Chahda. Now they did so, and Rick ticked off points on his fingers. + +"Item One: The man on the boat who tried to chop you. Either an Igorot +or Ifugao. Item Two: Chahda checks out of the hotel and appears as a +Sikh guard at Lazada's." + +"You forgot Item Three," Scotty added. "Colonel Felix Rojas. Asked us +what good is hay to a dead horse, and knew we were having dinner at +Lazada's." He described the incident to Tony. + +"Item Four," Rick continued. "We find a prowler in your room. He had a +rifle cached in the walled city and waited around to use it on us. He +was either an Igorot or Ifugao." He spread his hands. "Do we need +anything more? Something is in the wind. But what?" + +"A golden skull," Scotty said. + +"Yes. But we don't have it. Does it make sense for anyone to try to +knock us off before we have it? Shucks, we don't even know where it is, +except that it's somewhere among the rice terraces." + +"Which is like saying that somewhere in the Mohave Desert is a buried +treasure," Scotty added. + +Tony Briotti sighed. "I had heard a great deal about the penchant you +two have for mysteries and excitement. Now I believe everything I've +heard and more. I can't imagine any reason for all these happenings. +They simply don't make sense." + +"They do to someone," Rick said, and Scotty nodded agreement. + +Their waiter approached, an envelope in his hand. "Meester Brant? This +come while you outside. You take?" + +Rick took. "Must have arrived while Scotty and I were battling for the +boxing championship of the walled city." He tore it open. + +"Item Five," he said. "From Chahda. 'Can't come now. Meet you in Baguio. +Watch yourselves. Big danger from Ifugao no palate.'" + +Scotty held his head with both hands. "Great! How do we know whether or +not an Ifugao has no palate?" + +"Look down the throats of every one we see," Rick said wearily. "Or +maybe if an Ifugao has no palate he wears a sign to say so." + +Tony Briotti rose. "That message makes no sense, either. And I make no +sense to myself. It's late. Come on to bed. Maybe everything will clear +up in the morning." + +"Go to bed or go nuts," Rick added. "The choice is easy. But let's bar +the windows. Just to keep the night air out." + +"Amen," Scotty said. "I think I'll break out my rifle and keep it by the +bed. Just in case some of that dangerous night air gets in." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +Manotok the Mighty + + +At breakfast the next morning Rick and Scotty were subjected to an +amused scrutiny by Tony. He ticked off the items on his fingers. + +"Rick has a slight mouse under one eye, and his left arm seems a little +stiff. I noticed that he sat down gingerly, and that there is a very +pronounced bruise on the side of his jaw. Hands would indicate that he +has been playing with a rather rough cat, except that I happen to know +he was scrambling around in some cadena de amor. + +"Scotty is also wearing a mouse under one eye, perhaps a little more +prominent than Rick's. And he has a long scratch behind the left ear, +obviously caused by some sharp instrument." + +The archaeologist grinned. "If you do that to each other, what would you +do to an enemy?" + +The boys grinned back. "Can't tell you until we catch an enemy," Rick +replied. "Actually, most of my terrible wounds came from falling down." + +"Same here," Scotty agreed. "And that sharp instrument you mentioned was +the edge of a tin can." + +Tony spooned succulent orange-colored papaya melon with appreciation. +"Have either of you figured out what our Ifugao friend--let's assume +that he was an Ifugao--wanted in my room last night?" + +"The only answer I can think of is the obvious one," Rick answered. "He +probably thought we have a map or something showing the location of the +golden skull. He wanted it." + +"I accept the hypothesis only because I haven't a better one," Tony +said. "How about you, Scotty?" + +Scotty shrugged. "Can't buy it. But on the other hand, I don't have any +theory. Wish Sherlock Holmes were here." + +"We could use him," Briotti admitted. "Well, what's the program for +today?" + +"Off to Baguio," Rick replied. "But first, we'll have to rent or buy a +truck. The plane can't carry us plus our gear, and we'll need the truck +to take our stuff into the mountains. Scotty and I can do that. What are +your plans?" + +"There's an American anthropologist here I'd like to see. He's +internationally known. Name of J. Walter McGowan. I made a tentative +appointment yesterday. I'm sure he will have some information on the +Ifugaos that will be of interest. Probably Okola has included in his +papers on the subject everything McGowan knows, but I'd like to talk +with him just to get the feel of things, so to speak." + +"Then why don't you do that this morning?" Rick suggested. "We'll get +the truck, load the gear, and get ready to take off." + +"Wonder where that Filipino Angel is?" Scotty asked. "Wasn't he supposed +to be here this morning?" + +"I don't think Okola specified a time," Tony replied. "And the morning +is still pretty young." + +That was true enough, Rick thought. Besides, he had the impression that +the Filipinos, although they followed Western customs, had the Far +Easterners' disregard of time. + +"If the Angel doesn't arrive, one of us will have to drive the truck to +Baguio," he said. "I had hoped he would take the truck, then we three +could fly." + +Scotty asked, with deceptive casualness, "Tony, what do you think of Dr. +Okola?" + +Tony answered promptly. "A first-rate scientist and a distinguished +gentleman besides. Why?" + +"Do you trust him?" + +"Implicitly. We're not dealing with a stranger here, Scotty. Okola's +name has been known to me since I first became interested in +archaeology. We have many mutual friends, and he has been very helpful +and courteous since this project was first proposed. Yes, I trust him." + +"That's good," Scotty said, "since we're buying the services of this +Angel purely on his say-so. We'll have to trust Angel. We have no +choice." + +"True. I'm prepared to trust him, simply because Okola said we could." + +Rick nodded agreement. "I'll take him on faith, too." He had learned not +to be overtrustful in far places among strangers, but he agreed with +Tony's estimate of Okola. The man, he believed, was just what he seemed +to be--a Filipino scientist and gentleman. He had liked Okola. + +"All right," Scotty said. "I'll go along. Okola seemed like a real +_compadre_. But how about Lazada? Do you trust him?" + +Tony considered. He finished his papaya, then tackled a mango salad, an +unusual but delicious breakfast dish. "I don't _dis_trust him," he said +finally. "That's negative, but the best I can do. He's not the type of +individual who appeals to me very much, but without further evidence I'd +hesitate to mark him untrustworthy." + +"I have a hunch," Rick said. "My hunch says that Mr. Lazada is crooked +as a helical coil. I wouldn't trust him anywhere, any time." + +Scotty agreed. "I would have said he's no straighter than the cutting +edge of a saw. And he's just about that sharp, too. Trouble with you is, +Tony, you're too civilized. You always see the best in everything, +including people." + +"Don't you?" Tony asked mildly. + +The boys chuckled. Of course they did, and Tony knew it. But on an +expedition like this, their suspicions came to the fore and they +automatically distrusted everyone. Lack of distrust had caused them much +trouble on other expeditions, and had come close to costing them their +lives. + +The headwaiter approached. "There is a man to see Dr. Briotti. Shall I +have him wait?" + +"That must be Okola's man," Tony said. "No, please bring him here." + +The three watched with interest as the headwaiter went to the door and +returned leading a short, dark man. + +Rick examined him with interest. At first glance the Filipino seemed +quite short, as so many of his race are. Then Rick's discerning eyes saw +the breadth of his shoulders. And he saw that the man wasn't really very +short; he only seemed to be because of his extraordinary shoulder width. + +The man was dressed simply but neatly in typical Filipino style with +white trousers and a white shirt. The shirt had no tail, but was cut +square at the bottom like a sport shirt. The collar was sport-shirt +style, too, worn open, and disclosed a muscular throat. + +The man bowed slightly. "Dr. Briotti?" + +"I am Briotti." He indicated the boys. "Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott. And +you?" + +"I am Angel Manotok, at your service. Dr. Okola said that you needed a +driver, guide, and general handyman. He said that he had recommended +me." + +"Yes. Please sit down. Will you have breakfast?" + +"Some coffee, perhaps. I have already had breakfast." + +Angel Manotok had a strong, square face. Rick thought that he looked +very much like an American Indian. His hair was thick and very black, +and freshly cut into a sort of crew cut. + +"You will want to see my papers," Angel said. + +He produced a wallet and extracted several documents. The Spindrifters +examined them. There was a Philippine driver's license, a United States +Army driver's license indicating that the bearer was qualified to drive +military vehicles, an honorable discharge from the Philippine Scouts, +which had been a part of the United States Army, and a certificate from +the Philippine Public Health Service certifying that Angel Manotok, as +of three weeks ago, had been X-rayed and found free of tuberculosis. + +"So you were in the Philippine Scouts," Scotty remarked. + +Angel grinned, showing strong white teeth. "I have been many things, +including a scout. I have also been a lumberjack in Zambales Province, a +gold miner in Baguio, and a farmer in Mindanao." + +"You speak remarkably good English," Tony commented. + +"Thank you, sir. You will notice from my discharge that I was a sergeant +in the Philippine Scouts. I had the advantage of American military +schools. I also attended college--the Ateneo de Manila, which has +American Jesuit priests as teachers. I did not graduate, unfortunately, +but I did learn your language rather better than most Filipinos." + +Rick liked Angel at once. He nodded at Tony and Scotty, and they nodded +back. Tony at once began discussing salary and general arrangements with +Angel. + +When they had reached an agreement, Angel grinned. "Now I can tell you. +Since Dr. Okola was very anxious for me to go, I was prepared to work +for you just for food. But a salary is much better." + +"Much," Tony agreed. "We prefer it that way, too, although I appreciate +your loyalty to Dr. Okola." + +"Where is your baggage?" Rick asked. + +"I left it outside at the desk. I haven't much to carry along. Just work +clothes and a few tools." + +"Where can we get a truck?" Scotty inquired. + +"What kind would you like?" + +Rick answered. "An Army six-by-six, if possible." + +"That can be done. Rent or buy?" + +"Which do you suggest?" + +"Rent. Let me do it for you. I can bargain much better than you can." + +"Fine," Rick agreed. "We'll go with you and watch." + +Angel shook his head. "Better not. If the dealer knows the truck is for +Americans, the price will go up. If he thinks it is for a Filipino, the +price will be low. Let me get a truck--I'll be sure it's a good one--and +meet you here." + +Rick considered. "No, let's make another plan. I want to spend a little +more time checking my plane. Suppose you get the truck, then meet us at +Hangar 18 at the airport. We can come back here and load after lunch. +Then we can fly to Baguio while you follow with the truck." + +"Have you ever driven to Baguio?" Scotty asked. + +"Many times. It takes between six and seven hours, depending on the +traffic. Some parts of the road aren't very good, and traffic piles up." + +"Then if you leave at noon, you should be in Baguio at dinnertime." + +"Yes. Shall I go now? I will need a hundred pesos. That is for a deposit +on the truck." + +Tony opened his billfold. "Let's see. That's fifty dollars. Is American +money all right?" + +Angel smiled. "American money is always all right, everywhere. I will +get a truck and then come to the airport. Yes?" + +"Yes. And glad to have you with us," Rick said. + +Scotty and Tony echoed his remark and they shook hands all around. Angel +tucked the pesos into his wallet and hurried out. + +"Good deal," Scotty said. "He's a lot of man. Notice those shoulders? +And his hands show he's used to work. I like him." + +Rick and Tony did, too, and said so. "I feel better about him going off +alone with our stuff," Rick said. + +"Except for the SS," Scotty added, referring to the earth scanner. "You +heard what he said about the road to Baguio? That's a delicate gadget +and we don't want it banged around too much." + +"You've got a point," Rick agreed. "Suppose we take it with us in the +plane?" + +"Good idea." Scotty rose. "Tony, we'll go on to the airport and meet you +here about eleven thirty. Okay?" + +"That will give me plenty of time." The scientist hesitated. "I know +you'll take care of yourselves. Remember that we have a sniper after us. +Not to mention an Ifugao with no palate. Incidentally, I suspect that +our friend Angel has a little Igorot or Ifugao blood. Did you notice +that he resembles the American Indian?" + +"I did," Rick said. "Would it be unusual for him to have Igorot blood?" + +"Not particularly. There is some intermarriage of Christian Filipinos +with the pagans. Also, Angel may have some Chinese blood, which would +account for the unusually high cheekbones and rather flat face. He +doesn't have the Mongoloid eye fold which gives the appearance of slant +eyes, but that means nothing. Many Filipinos with Chinese blood lack +it." + +"What are the Filipinos, anyway?" Scotty asked as they walked to the +door. + +"Originally, the Filipinos were of almost pure Malay blood. But there +was much intermarriage with the Chinese and the Spanish, and now, +particularly around Manila, _mestizos_, which is what persons of mixed +race are called, are very common." + +Tony hailed a taxi at the door and the boys went to their room. Rick had +put a thread across the bottom of the casement window. It was not +disturbed, nor was the chair he had carefully placed so that anyone +coming through the door would move it slightly. There had been no +prowlers while they were at breakfast. + +The boys opened the case containing the earth scanner and lifted out the +leather carrying cases which contained the electronic controls and +amplifiers and the delicate scanning tube. They carried the cases down +to the lobby and took a cab to the airport. + +The ride was pleasant, since the way to the airport was along Dewey +Boulevard, which edged Manila Bay. Far across the bay they could see the +American Naval Station at Cavite. And to the north was Mariveles +Mountain on Bataan Peninsula. + +Here and there the sail of a banca dotted the brown water. In the +bancas--outrigger canoes--were fishermen. A large part of the Filipino +diet was fish. + +The highway branched away from the bay finally, and a short time later +they arrived at the modern airport, once the American Air Corps base of +Nichols Field. + +The Sky Wagon was as they had left it, apparently undisturbed. But they +were not taking anything for granted. Rick and Scotty checked the plane +over literally inch by inch, searching for signs of tampering. + +As Rick examined the landing struts, a shadow fell across the doorway. +He looked up to see an American watching him. + +The American stepped forward. He was of medium height, with close +cropped sandy hair. He wore a yellow T shirt under a white linen coat. +His trousers were gray rayon, and his footgear was openwork sandals. He +looked comfortable and cool, even in the broiling Philippine sun. Rick +judged him to be about forty years old. + +"Mind if I look?" the man asked. + +"Not at all," Rick answered politely. He hesitated, then introduced +himself and Scotty, who had come around from the other side of the +plane. + +"My name is Nast. James Nast. You must be two of the scientific party I +read about in the Manila _Bulletin_." + +"I didn't know anything about us had been in the papers," Rick replied. + +"This morning," Nast said. He took a tabloid-size paper from his pocket, +unfolded it to the item, and handed it to them. + +The item was brief. It merely stated that a party headed by Dr. Anthony +Briotti, with Mr. Richard Brant and Mr. Donald Scott, had been +entertained by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior at dinner prior +to their departure to Mountain Province to search for primitive +artifacts. Dr. Okola, of the University of the Philippines, local +adviser to the American party, also had attended the dinner. + +"Lazada must have given that to the press," Rick remarked. + +"Probably," Nast agreed. "Filipino politicos are like our own. They live +on publicity. Please don't let me intrude. I came to the airport to meet +a shipment from Hong Kong, but the plane is late, so I've been wandering +around sightseeing." + +"Are you in business?" Scotty asked. + +"Yes. Import-export. I import Chinese silver, both alloyed and pure, and +have it fabricated by Filipinos. Mostly into filigree work. Then I +export it to America. I also import Siamese and Indo-Chinese silks which +are made into all sorts of things and then exported to America. I was +expecting a silk shipment this morning. My agent in Hong Kong gets it +from Siam and Indo-China, and forwards it." + +"Been out here long?" Rick inquired. + +"Since the war. I first came here when I was in the Navy. Liked it so +well I took my discharge here and stayed. Going to be in Manila long?" + +"Just a few hours." Rick wiped sweat from his face. "We're going to +Baguio." + +"So am I. Perhaps I'll see you there." + +"Really? What's Baguio like?" + +"Plenty of local color. And the weather is great. It's high in the +mountains and very cool. You'll sleep under blankets tonight, and so +will I." Nast wiped his face, too. "This shipment goes by truck to +Baguio, and I'm going to ride along with it." He wiped his face again. + +"Why don't you take your coat off?" Scotty asked. + +Nast grinned. "Because I've got a .38 automatic in a shoulder holster." + +The boys stiffened. Rick and Scotty exchanged glances. + +"The road to Baguio isn't the safest in the world," Nast explained. +"It's fairly peaceful now, but bandits still operate up through Pampanga +Province. I carry a gun to discourage interest in my shipments." + +Now that he had mentioned it, Rick could see the bulge of the shoulder +holster. But it was a good job of tailoring and he realized that the +linen jacket had been made to conceal the shoulder gun. + +"The plane from Hong Kong won't be in for at least a half hour," Nast +said. "Mind if I stick around? It's a pleasure to talk to Americans. I +deal mostly with Filipinos out in the _barrios_, the small towns where +my fabricating is done, and I don't see Americans very often." + +"Glad to have you, if you don't mind our going ahead with our work," +Rick told him. + +"Don't let me get in the way. Go right ahead." + +The boys did so, and Rick explained the fine points of the Sky Wagon to +Nast while he worked to check every possible point of sabotage. He liked +talking about the plane. It was something to be proud of. And Nast was +an interested listener who apparently knew something about planes. + +After the check up, they rolled the plane outside and Rick warmed up the +engine. Then, while he was testing the radio, Angel Manotok arrived with +a truck. Rick immediately shut the engine off and got out, curious to +see what Angel had found. Scotty was already looking it over, with Nast +an interested spectator. Rick introduced him to Angel, then asked: + +"Is it in good condition?" + +"Very good. The man said it had been overhauled recently, and I believe +him. The tires are in good condition and there are two spares." + +The truck was a typical Army vehicle with double rear wheels, both front +and rear drive, and a winch on the front. The motor purred sweetly. +Angel had apparently done well. + +Nast asked, "Going to use both the truck and the plane? Or will you +leave the plane at Baguio?" + +"We're not sure," Rick said. "Depends on whether we find a landing place +at Bontoc. Have you been there?" + +"A few times. There are no decent fields. But you could land on the +road. It's black top, and there are few power lines or phone lines. I +think you can do it." + +"Glad to hear that," Rick said, relieved. To Scotty and Angel he said, +"We can go on back to the hotel and load the truck. We'll have to check +the plane engine before take-off, anyway." + +"Think the plane will be safe?" Scotty asked. + +"Sure. We'll put it in the hangar and lock the door. I notice the +airport guards go by pretty often, and besides, the plane has been all +right so far." + +"I guess you're right," Scotty agreed. "But let's put the alarm out, +anyway." + +The alarm was a very loud horn wired into a circuit which caused it to +go off if the plane was so much as touched. Rick set it, then locked the +door of the plane. Removing the key from the lock activated the circuit. +Then they closed and locked the hangar door. The plane would be all +right. + +Nast was talking to Angel Manotok in Tagalog. Angel was replying, but +not very enthusiastically. + +Rick spoke up. "You speak the local language pretty well, Mr. Nast." + +"Have to," Nast said cheerfully. "The Filipino families that work for me +can't speak English, often as not. Well, good hunting. Perhaps we'll +meet in Baguio." + +The boys shook hands. "Good luck to you. Hope your shipment arrives." + +"It will. The planes from Hong Kong are often late. The airport there is +closed in half the time from fog. Good luck." + +The boys got into the truck with Angel and he drove out to the main +highway. + +"What were you and Nast talking about?" Scotty asked. + +Angel took his time about answering. "He just wanted to know when we +were going to Baguio. I think he was making small talk. Maybe he wanted +to show off his Tagalog." + +"Was his Tagalog good?" Rick asked. + +"Yes. Very good." + +Angel said no more, and Rick wondered for a moment. What had Nast really +said? He decided that it wasn't of any importance. Perhaps Nast was one +of those Americans who always talk to people of other lands in a +half-insulting way. Rick had met them--and mighty poor advertisements +for America they were. + +They parked the truck behind the hotel and took Angel to their room. +"We'll get help and have the crates carried down for you." Rick said. + +Angel grinned. "Why bother? You two take one and I'll take the other." + +The boys looked at each other. True, the crates weren't huge, but each +was a hefty load for two men. + +"Stop bragging," Scotty said. The jocular tone of his voice made a +playful challenge of the words. + +Angel took the challenge. He went to the largest crate, swung it easily +to his head, and balanced it with one hand. "Let's go," he said, +grinning. + +Scotty stepped forward, blood in his eye, and tackled the second crate. +He got it up, but it was obvious that it was too much of a load even for +his above-normal strength. Rick lent a hand and they carried the crate +along behind Angel, who walked as though he had a feather pillow +balanced on his head. + +"Manotok the Mighty," Scotty said, and there was genuine awe in his +voice. + +Angel pronounced his name in the Spanish style, _Ahng-hel_, but now he +shifted to the English pronunciation and said, "I'm an angel, and my +strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure." + +The boys laughed. "That was first applied to Galahad, wasn't it?" Rick +asked. + +"Don't know," Angel replied. "But I like it, anyway." + +The crates took up little room in the truck. Angel lashed them in, then +the three went to the main dining room to meet Tony. They had time for a +glass of limeade before the scientist showed up. He came to the table +and asked, "Do you know a man by the name of Nast?" + +Rick's eyebrows went up. "Yes. Met him this morning. Why?" + +"He left a phone message at the desk. Wants you to call him." + +Rick rose and went to the lobby, puzzled. What could Nast want? He got +the number Nast had left. It turned out to be the freight office at the +airport. Then there was a wait while the man was paged. At last he came +to the phone. + +"Brant?... Nast here. Look, I'm terribly sorry to impose on such short +acquaintance, but I want to ask a favor. My shipment came in, but now I +can't get a truck. The one I usually ship on has a regular run, and the +driver took off for Baguio without checking. So I'm stranded. If you +haven't too much of a load, could I ride along with your Filipino +driver? My shipment weighs only two hundred pounds." + +Rick considered. Nothing in the truck would be in any danger. The earth +scanner was safely stowed in the luggage compartment of the plane. + +Nast added, "I'll be glad to pay for the trip. It will save me waiting +over until tomorrow." + +"No need," Rick said. "We'll be glad to accommodate you. Meet you at the +hangar in an hour." He hung up, very thoughtful. Why should his +instincts rebel against doing Nast such a small favor? Again he told +himself that no harm could come of it. Even if Nast were finger-man for +a bandit gang he would get nothing except clothes and ordinary, easily +replaced tools. And it was ridiculous to imagine the American as any +such thing. True, he was not an educated man, but that meant less than +nothing. Education, as such, has little to do with honesty. No, Nast was +just an American sailor who had decided to stay in the tropics, and +apparently was making a go of it in a business way. + +"Let him ride," Rick thought. "It will be okay. He can't do any damage, +I guess...." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +Chahda Checks In + + +Rick had expected the flight to Baguio to be a snap, but as it turned +out, he had to call for help. Angel Manotok carried the three +Spindrifters to the airport in the truck, Rick and Scotty riding behind, +then Angel departed for Baguio with Nast and his bundle of silks. + +Rick checked in at the Philippine Aeronautics Commission, seeking +information on the airport at Baguio. He took one look at the approach +pattern and gulped. The approach was between high mountains, down a +valley, and then up a mountainside. What made it worse was that one +mountain looked much like another on the topographical map. + +He exclaimed, "Boy! That's a rugged landing field to find!" + +The Filipino official smiled. "You have maybe Navy flying experience?" + +"No. Why?" + +"Best experience for landing at Baguio is making landings on aircraft +carrier." + +"Thanks," Rick said. "Any advice?" + +"Yes. Go to Philippine Air Lines. Talk to flight dispatcher. PAL flight +leaves here maybe two hours. Just right for you. Fly to rendezvous. +Pretty soon along comes PAL flight and you follow in." + +The advice was good, Rick realized. He could not do better than follow a +regular air-line flight into the field. He did as directed, met the +pilot of the next Baguio flight, a former Filipino pilot in the United +States Air Force, and was told the approximate time the PAL flight would +pass the Kennon Road horseshoe curve for the Baguio approach. + +"Follow the Kennon Road," the pilot advised. "Pick me up when I go over +the curve. You can't mistake the place. Nothing else like it." + +While Rick made arrangements, Tony and Scotty loaded their personal +suitcases into the luggage compartment with the earth scanner. Scotty +started the engine and checked the plane, so that it was warm when Rick +arrived. They took off at once and headed north across the great central +plain of Luzon. + +The landscape below was flat, cut up by creeks and estuaries. It was +perfect rice country. Later they passed Mount Arayat, once the hide-out +of the Hukbalahap--the lawless forces that had been such a threat to +Philippine stability. Ahead of them rose the mountains of northern +Luzon. Within those mountains they would find Baguio and Mountain +Province. + +Rick picked up the Kennon Road without trouble as it wound its way +through the foothills. Staying high, he followed it until he reached a +great switchback curve. A car following that road would literally double +back on itself, he thought. He glanced at his watch. The PAL plane would +be along in about two minutes. The pilot had estimated Rick's flying +time perfectly. Rick climbed, then circled until Scotty saw the +twin-engine transport approaching. + +The PAL pilot waggled his wings, and Rick followed as the air liner +throttled down, swung between mountain peaks, and threaded its way down +a wide valley. Rick gulped. A good thing he had had the experienced +pilot to follow. He would never have found the way alone. The peaks were +completely confusing to someone who had never seen them before. + +The air liner turned suddenly and Rick's heart leaped into his throat. +He thought the PAL plane was flying right into the mountainside. But +such was not the case. The plane settled down on a landing strip that +had been hewn from a mountaintop. It was obvious what the PAL official +had meant when he joked about carrier landings. + +Rick followed the PAL plane in, and had to fight down his instinctive +feeling to gain altitude when he saw the mountainside rushing at him. He +nearly over-shot the landing strip. But then the Sky Wagon was down, and +he taxied toward the control station. + +Scotty wiped his brow. "Some field!" + +"Next time will be okay," Rick replied. "But this time I aged ten +years." + +The Filipino pilot walked to meet them, grinning. "How do you like +Baguio airport?" + +"I've landed on fields I liked better," Rick replied. "Thanks for +leading us in." + +"You're welcome. I remember my first landing. Couldn't fly again for a +week. All I could think of was spreading my passengers all over the +hillside. But only the first time is hard. We fly in and out of here +several times a day, and we've never had a serious accident." + +"Your air line doesn't go in for accidents," Tony Briotti said. "You +have a remarkable safety record." + +"We do our best," the pilot said. "Going into town? I am. I have a car +behind the control shack. Be glad to give you a lift." + +"Thanks a million," Rick answered. "First I have to make arrangements +for my plane." + +The pilot grinned. "None to make. No hangars, no service except gas. +Just stake it down and lock the door. It will be all right." + +It had to be all right. There was nothing else to do. The Spindrifters +took the earth scanner and their personal luggage, then locked the +plane, leaving the alarm activated. As an afterthought, Rick left a +duplicate key with the Filipino field official. Someone might touch it +casually and set the alarm off, and it would sound until the door was +unlocked and relocked again with the key. He explained how it worked and +then joined the pilot and his friends in the official air-line car. + +The pilot dropped them at Muller's, a combination boardinghouse and +old-fashioned inn. They checked in, then climbed a nearby hill for a +view of Baguio. + +As far as the eye could see, there were mountains. Steep ridges and deep +clefts made a picturesque jumble of the landscape. Beyond, over the +ridge, was the Trinidad Valley, a farm garden area where the American +colony of the Philippines got most of its temperate zone vegetables and +fruit. On the other side of town was the Golden Bowl of Benguet, where +fabulous gold mines were worked by Igorot miners clad only in +breechcloths and hard-rock helmets. + +Baguio itself was a modern city in most respects. But the population--a +strange mixture of Christian Filipinos and primitive, pagan Igorots--was +unusual. The Filipinos wore typical Western dress, and actually dressed +pretty warmly. The Igorot men wore the breechcloth, perhaps with a shirt +or sweater, perhaps with nothing at all. Most of the men had tiny +pillbox caps of woven straw on the backs of their heads. The little +round boxes were decorated with such oddments as boar's tusks and coke +bottle caps. The Igorot women wore a tight-fitting skirt of colorful +wool, usually patterned in red or yellow. They wore blouses of +embroidered white cotton, or jackets of colored wool. Their skirts had +balls of yarn on the hips. The women wore no hats. Both sexes were +usually barefoot. + +There were contrasts. For example, next to a great Christian cathedral +was the Igorot dog market. The Igorots were eaters of dog meat. + +But it was not the Igorots or the mountains that had made Baguio famous +and turned it into the summer capital of the Philippines--it was the +climate. While Manila burned in the tropical sun, Baguio, thousands of +feet higher, had cool, fall-like weather. There was hardly a night +during the year when blankets were not comfortable. Even the foliage was +temperate rather than tropical. Baguio had pine trees, a welcome sight +to the Spindrift trio. + +There was a tall, fragrant pine just outside the window of the room +shared by Rick and Scotty. When the boys returned to their rooms to wash +up for an early dinner, Rick leaned out and broke off a pine cone. Then, +by reaching only a bit further, he grabbed a cluster of purple-red +blossoms from a bougainvillea vine that had climbed the tree to their +second-floor height. + +In the comfortable dining room, they chose a table in front of a roaring +fireplace, glad of the warmth. It was chilly in Baguio. While they +waited to be served, Rick mentioned the pine tree to Tony and commented +that it was odd that a tree should be left so close to a building. + +"The forest practices of the Igorots and Ifugaos could well be copied by +us," Tony told the boys. "Anyone who cuts down a tree for anything other +than genuine use is severely punished. In the old days the punishment +might have been loss of his head. That's how much respect they have for +their water supply, which is dependent directly on their forests." + +"You talk as though these were civilized people," Scotty commented. + +Tony grinned. "Depends on what you call civilization. But they have a +very highly developed and complex culture. They have a history, too, +which they know better than we know ours. For instance, an Ifugao can +recite his ancestry as far back as twenty-five generations. Can you?" + +"Not sure I'd want to," Scotty retorted. "Might be a few horse thieves +along the way. Seriously, I see what you mean." + +"Their priests must know all about fifteen hundred different gods and +all the legends and taboos connected with each. No written books to +consult, either. All must be memorized." + +"That certainly proves that they have good memories," Rick said. "I'm +not sure what else it proves." + +"Wait until you see the rice terraces. Now let's order dinner. This cool +air has whetted my appetite like a razor's edge." + +After a delicious meal of broiled steak, fresh vegetables from Trinidad +Valley, and the huge strawberries for which the valley is famous, the +three lingered over coffee and Tony recited more details of the Igorot +and Ifugao way of life, so different from their own. In the midst of the +recital Angel Manotok arrived. + +"Good trip?" Rick asked. + +"Yes. No trouble. The truck is a beauty. What do you want me to do now?" + +Rick handed him the keys to their room. "You're pretty dusty. Wash up, +eat, then go to the airport. You'll find a spare bedroll in the crate +you carried by yourself back at the Manila Hotel. Keep an eye on the +plane, and we'll join you at breakfast time." + +Although there was no reason to suspect that anyone would harm the +plane, none of them felt comfortable about leaving it unguarded. They +were sure it would be safe during the daylight hours, but darkness +afforded an opportunity for sabotage. + +Angel took the keys and went on his way. In a short time he returned, +gave the keys back to Rick, and said, "I'll get supper at a Filipino +place. See you in the morning." + +"Businesslike," Tony said approvingly. "No waste words or motion. I +think we were lucky to get him." + +The boys agreed. "Wonder how he and Nast got along?" Rick queried. "I +forgot to ask him." + +"He probably dropped off Nast and his silks before he came here," Scotty +commented. + +At Tony's suggestion they walked around town, taking in the interesting +marketplace, the several cathedrals, the summer palace of the +Philippines president, and the parks. Baguio was different--and very +peaceful and pleasant. As they walked, they discussed their plans for +the next day. + +Rick and Tony were to fly to Bontoc, which was still in Igorot country, +then cross the mountain to Banaue, which was the objective of the trip, +land of the Ifugaos and home of the fabled rice terraces. It was to be a +non-stop trip, mostly to familiarize Rick with the terrain. At the same +time, Scotty and Angel were to go by truck to Bontoc, several hours' +drive to the north. They would remain overnight. If Scotty could arrange +a landing place for the Sky Wagon, he would phone Rick at Muller's. Then +Rick and Tony would fly up the next morning. Scotty was a pilot himself, +so he knew the requirements for a good landing strip. + +If no suitable landing place were available, Rick and Tony would hire a +jeep and drive to Bontoc. Jeeps were common in the Philippines, since +they were ideal vehicles for the back country. Hiring one would present +no problems. + +With no landing place available, the Sky Wagon would not come into use +until the expedition found artifacts of value. Then Rick would return to +Baguio, get the plane, pick up the discoveries by cable, and deliver the +stuff to Okola in Manila for safekeeping and preliminary examination. + +The exercise and the cool freshness of the air made them sleepy, and +presently, by mutual consent, they returned to Muller's. + +"Might as well get to bed early," Tony said. "Then we can be up at dawn +and get off to an early start. Good night, boys." + +The boys bade him good night and went to their own room, a few doors +down the hall. Scotty unlocked the door and swung it open, then let out +a yell of joy. Chahda was sprawled on one of the beds, reading a +magazine! + +The Hindu boy was dressed in Western clothes, slacks and a sports +jacket. + +He looked up as the door opened. "Hi," he said casually. "Nice walk?" + +It was as though they had left him reading while they went for a stroll. +Chahda's casualness was too much for Rick and Scotty. They dove for him, +hauled him out of the bed, and pummeled him with sheer delight. Finally +Chahda yelled for mercy. + +"I give in! Plenty okay! I glad to see you, too. Please do not break +leg, may need it." + +"You no-good swami," Scotty said. "What's the idea of playing Sikh?" + +The boys sat down on the bed opposite Chahda. + +"Talk," Rick commanded. "What kind of gag is this?" + +"Best way to learn about people is to be one of them," Chahda said with +dignity. "I have been Filipino and Sikh. Now I become Igorot. First I +learned about this new country from Alm-in-ack. Says this largest group +in Malay Archipelago. What is archipelago, please?" + +Rick saw the twinkle in Chahda's eye and knew that their friend was +following his usual custom of teasing them. "Archy Pelago is the black +sheep of the Pelago family," he said. "Archy first fell from grace when +he got into a fight with neighbors. It was a real melee. Hence his +nickname. Melee Archy Pelago...." + +A pillow caught him in the face, smothering his words. Scotty pushed him +over on the bed and sat on him. + +"Come on, Chahda. I'm so curious I could spring a seam. What's going +on?" + +Rick squirmed, got nowhere, and finally sank his teeth into Scotty hard +enough to get results. Scotty let out a yell that could have been heard +in Singapore. + +Tony Briotti pounded on the door and called, "How do you expect the +paying guests to sleep with that racket going on?" + +The boys let him in and introduced Chahda. Tony shook hands with the +Hindu boy. "I was beginning to believe you were a figment of the +well-known Spindrift imagination. It's a pleasure to meet you." + +"Likewise am honored to meet brilliant young scientist," Chahda said +politely. "My worthless friends tell me they even call you by nickname, +while other scientists are called by title. This is mark of high esteem, +I think. Glad to meet you, _Sahib_ Tony." + +"Chahda was just going to give us the low-down," Rick said. + +"That what the yelling was about?" Tony asked. + +"Scotty yelled," Rick said. "Mosquito bit him." + +"That mosquito is going to get swatted when he least expects it," Scotty +promised. "Come on, Chahda. Spin us a yarn." + +"Okay." Chahda sat cross-legged on Rick's bed. "You know I went to +Manila Hotel. For three days I waited. Then one day I sit next to famous +Assistant Secretary of Exterior." + +"Interior," Rick corrected. "Lazada." + +"Yes. Soon he is met by a friend who sits with him. This friend is not +known to me then. But I listen. I hear Lazada's friend say that soon +come Americans who will desec--What is ruin religious things, please?" + +"Desecrate," Tony supplied. + +"Yes. Do that to sacred Ifugao things. This friend begs Lazada not to +give permit." + +The three Spindrifters were sitting on the edges of the beds now, +concentrating on every word. + +"Friend says Americans will dig up rice terraces, looking for gold. +Sacred objects of gold will be carried away, and earth-cokes and drafts +will fall on Ifugao people." + +"Earthquakes and droughts," Rick corrected. + +"That is what I said," Chahda nodded. "Lazada objects that these are not +real gold things, and the friend says they are. Real gold. Much gold. +All very sacred. Again he begs Lazada not to allow this sacker-ledge." + +"Sacrilege." + +"Yes. Anyway, Lazada says Americans have much influence. He does not +know if he can stop them. But he will try. I do not believe he talks +truth. His looks do not make me trust him. You know?" + +The boys knew. + +"When friend leaves, I think I follow him. He starts out, then he meets +American on steps of hotel. I get close and listen. He says to American, +how you like to add gold to your smuggle into China?" + +Rick whistled. He had heard that smuggling gold from the Philippines +into China was big business. + +"American says plenty like. Where is gold? Lazada says we not talk here, +you come to my house tonight--no, tomorrow. Got big official dinner +tonight, and there is plenty time. Then I decide I must know more. So I +go to Number One Sikh in Manila and tell him he has new strong boy to be +guard at Lazada's, after I make sure Lazada has Sikh guards. This is +arranged. No trouble." + +Chahda always made it sound dramatic but easy, Rick thought. He doubted +that it was as simple as the Hindu boy made out. + +"American comes, and I am not able to hear much of talk. But I get +American's name. You know him. Since this morning." + +"Nast!" Rick exclaimed. + +"Yes. Also comes to Lazada's house the Filipino friend, but he is not +Filipino. He is Ifugao. About him I do not know, except that he is +called No Palate. Or something like that. I would like to follow him, +but I think better I stay with Lazada. Good thing, too, because Nast +comes again, and this time I listen. Lazada tells Nast first to meet +you, so you will know and trust him. Then Nast is to get in touch with +No Palate. Lazada says he has told No Palate that he cannot keep permit +from you, but that American friend will help keep you from digging up +Ifugao sacred things." + +Chahda shrugged. "What am I to do? I stop being Sikh. My Number One Sikh +buddy-chum helps me meet Igorot who used to be scout for constabulary. +Name of Dog Meat. Fine name, huh? Dog Meat will help. I hire him. Need +helper named Dog Meat for sure." He grinned. + +The boys chuckled, and Tony explained, "That is actually a very +honorable name. Dog meat is a ceremonial meat among the Igorots." + +"Best reason I've heard for hiring anyone in a long time," Rick +commented. + +Chahda continued, "This morning I try to catch you at Manila, but reach +hotel too late, then reach airport too late. But I do some watching, and +I find out man with same describing as Nast has been visiting with you +at airport. You already gone. Nast already gone. Dog Meat and me, we +take next PAL plane to Baguio. When get here, there is your Sky Wagon. +At least I think it is yours, because it is like you told me in your +letter. So I come here, but not come directly to room, because I think +maybe better I stay undercover. So climb tree and come in window." + +The Hindu boy made a gesture of "all done." "Next time you see me, I be +Ifugao. Or maybe Igorot. Maybe even Kalinga." He named another related +pagan group. "Will decide when I see what is to be did. But already have +name." He smiled blandly. "Name myself for Scotty." + +Rick moved out of the line of fire. + +Chahda bowed. "Meet Cow Brain." + +Scotty reached for him. Tony and Rick ducked. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Igorot Country + + +Rick and Scotty awoke the next morning with a feeling of well-being. +After the heat of Manila the cool air of Baguio had caused them to sleep +like logs. Also, things appeared to be going well, and Chahda finally +had contacted them. + +The contact had been a brief one. Chahda had gone, promising to keep in +touch with them as best he could. The Hindu boy was on the trail of +James Nast, hoping that by keeping close watch he could anticipate, and +perhaps prevent, any action Nast might try to take against the Spindrift +party. + +"Dog Meat," Rick said, grinning, as the two knocked on Tony Briotti's +door. "It may be a fine old ceremonial name in this part of the world, +but to me it's just a meal for Dismal." + +Dismal was the Brant family pup. When Rick thought of the pagans eating +dog, he always thought of Dismal served up as a roast, and the thought +made him ill. He had decided that he might admire the fine qualities of +the Igorot and Ifugao people, but the mental image of Dismal among the +poor, beaten mongrels in the dog market would always keep him from being +really fond of them. + +Tony failed to answer the door. "Probably gone down to breakfast +already," Scotty said. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Chahda won't +have much trouble finding Nast. Baguio isn't very big and there aren't +very many Americans. Wonder what Nast will try to do?" + +Rick shrugged. "How can we guess? There are so many things about this +part of the world we don't know. He might have two dozen slick tricks up +his sleeve. The best thing we can do is be on guard all the time. I'm +glad we sent Angel out to guard the plane." + +As they passed the hotel desk, the clerk hailed them. "Mr. Brant? A +message for you." + +"Probably from Chahda," Rick said. But he was wrong. The note was from +Tony, and it made Rick's eyes widen. He read it aloud: + +"'Dear boys. Woke up at dawn with something nagging at me. It broke +through my thick skull while I was having coffee. The Ifugao No Palate +must be Nangolat. It's the name Okola mentioned--his prize student. I +know of no other Ifugao with even a less remote connection. Also, the +shape of Angel's face bothers me. I am going to the airport on a hunch. +Be back about eight, with Angel.'" + +Scotty pointed to a wall clock. It was nearly nine o'clock. They had +slept late. + +The two boys, without a word, ran for the door. Outside the hotel a +Filipino taxi waited. They jumped in and gasped in one voice: "Baguio +Airport!" + +"The chucklehead," Scotty groaned. "Why didn't he wake us up? Why did he +have to go alone?" + +"Relax," Rick said, but he didn't really mean it. "It was just an idea +he had that this Ifugao might be tied up with Angel. After all, Okola +recommended Angel." He recognized the fallacy in his argument as soon as +the words were out, but Scotty was already pointing to it. + +"Yes. Angel is Okola's boy, and so is this Nangolat. What's more likely +than their being close friends? Angel could be giving Nangolat a helping +hand." + +The taxi climbed the winding streets of Baguio, passed the American +military rest camp and the Baguio residence of the American ambassador, +and finally entered the airport. + +One quick look around the field showed them that the truck was missing. +The Sky Wagon was waiting by itself. On Rick's quick instructions the +taxi raced to the plane. They got out and took a quick look. + +"No sign of damage," Scotty said. "Let's ask at the airport office." + +The office was closed. It was operated by Philippine Air Lines, and was +only kept open during the day, starting one hour before the day's first +flight to Manila or from the big city. The first flight on this day was +not until ten thirty. + +A pair of workmen with shovels were scratching listlessly at the gravel +on the opposite side of the field. The boys jumped into the taxi and +told the driver to cross the field. + +Rick leaned out. "Did you see a truck?" + +The men smiled and nodded. + +"How long ago?" Rick called. + +The men smiled some more, then shrugged. + +The Filipino cab driver spoke to them in Ilokano, the Christian dialect +of the province. They answered briefly, smiled at the boys again, and +went back to scratching at the gravel. Apparently they were supposed to +be leveling the shoulders of the runway. If so, the shoulders would be +stooped with age before they were finished. + +The Filipino cab driver turned to the boys. "Sir, these men not see +truck. They be here since maybe two hours. No truck." + +"But they said they did!" Scotty exclaimed. + +Rick interrupted, "Ask them if they saw an American, alone." + +The driver exchanged quick syllables with the workmen. "They see +American. He get in sedan which waiting for him, and go off." + +"Who was in the sedan?" + +Again the driver translated. "They not see. It on other side of field. +Only know maybe three men, maybe American, maybe Filipino. They not +know." + +"Take us back to the hotel," Rick commanded. "And thanks for +interpreting for us." + +"They said they saw the truck," Scotty insisted. + +Rick shook his head. "Remember what Tony once told us. Never ask a +question that can be answered yes or no, or the answer will be yes +whether that's the answer or not. That's as true in the Philippines as +it is in China or anywhere else in the Orient. I don't think they saw +the truck, but I'm sure they did see Tony go off in a sedan. I'm +worried, Scotty." + +"Same. Of course the men in the sedan could just have offered Tony a +lift back to the hotel." + +"What were they doing at the airport? The sign on the office door said +the first flight from Manila was at ten thirty. No one uses the field +but PAL, a few travelers like us, and maybe military planes." + +"I don't believe he just got a lift. But it's a possibility." + +"We'll soon know," Rick said. "Driver, please hurry." + +The Filipino grinned. "Sor, would like to please customer. But hurry on +these roads is break the necks, I think so." + +"He's right," Scotty agreed. "We'll get there soon enough." + +Within a few moments they were back at the hotel. Rick paid the driver +and thanked him for the help, then they ran in and confronted the clerk. +"Is Dr. Briotti back?" + +"I haven't seen him, gentlemen. Just a moment please." The clerk looked +in Tony's box. "His key is not here. Have you called his room?" + +"Not yet. Would you have seen him if he came in?" Rick asked. + +"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I've been doing some paper work, and unless he +came to the desk, I might not notice him." + +The boys nodded their thanks and hurried up the stairs to Tony's room. +They tried the door, then knocked loudly. There was no answer. They +knocked again, waited, then stared at each other bleakly. + +"Now what?" Rick had a feeling that Tony was in danger. He didn't know +why he felt that way when the only news they had was that he had gone +off in a sedan with three men. The workmen hadn't said that he had +fought, or that he had been pulled into the car. He voiced his thoughts +as he followed Scotty to their room. + +"That means nothing," Scotty pointed out. "He probably wouldn't argue +with a gun pointing out the window at him. The workmen probably wouldn't +have noticed a pistol barrel." + +"You're right, as usual. Well, what now?" + +"Call the cops?" + +"What would we say? Tony hasn't been gone more than an hour or two, so +far as we know. That's not reason enough to call the cops. We couldn't +tell them about Chahda and what he said. They wouldn't believe any such +stories about their Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and if they +did, they'd probably be afraid to do much about it. If Tony doesn't show +up in another hour or two, we probably ought to call the police. But not +yet." + +Scotty had worn a jacket because the morning was cool. But now the room +was warm, and he went to the closet to hang it up. + +"Hey, Tony must have taken the earth scanner with him." + +Rick was in the act of sitting down on his bed. He bounced up like a +rubber ball. "What? He couldn't have!" + +"Well, it's gone. And who else would have taken it?" + +"Tony didn't. He hasn't been in this room, except last night when Chahda +was here, and he didn't take the scanner then." + +Scotty snapped his fingers. "You gave Angel your key and told him to +clean up!" + +Rick slumped down on the bed again. That was it, of course. It had to +be. No one else had had the chance to get the equipment, barring the +possibility that the hotel personnel were dishonest, and there was no +reason to suspect them. + +"Then the equipment went with him last night. And we didn't notice until +now. But we would have noticed if it had been gone, wouldn't we? I've +been to the closet a dozen times and so have you." + +"Means nothing. I don't know why I noticed just now that the stuff was +gone. But there was nothing to call our attention to it last night or +this morning. Anyway, it was behind my big suitcase--I know. I knocked +the suitcase over when I closed the closet door this morning, and I +didn't stop to pick it up. It's still on its side. That's why I noticed +that the earth scanner wasn't there." + +"If we needed any proof that Angel is a bad one, probably in cahoots +with Nangolat, we have it. Scotty, what are we going to do?" + +"Call the cops," Scotty said grimly. "Now we have a theft to report." He +strode for the phone, but before he could pick it up there was a sharp +ring. Scotty answered. "Yes?" He listened, hung up hastily, and turned +to Rick. + +"The clerk says there's a Filipino in the lobby who wants to see us. +Says he knows us." + +"Chahda! It must be. He's posing as a pagan of some kind, and we don't +know any other Filipinos." + +Rick's thoughts were expressed as he and Scotty ran down the hall, then +took the stairs four at a time. + +"That's not Chahda!" Scotty pointed to a big Filipino who was striding +back and forth in front of the desk. The man was Scotty's size, and +built in about the same proportions. Around his head was what at first +glance appeared to be a kind of turban. At second glance the boys saw +that it was a thick bandage. + +The Filipino saw them and came toward them with quick strides. His face +probably was pleasant most of the time, but now it was grim, his mouth +creased in lines of pain. + +"Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott?" + +"Yes," Rick said. "And you...." + +"I am Angel Manotok!" the Filipino said. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Bontoc Road + + +"Dr. Okola instructed me in what I was to do," the real Angel Manotok +said. "Nangolat was present. He was very helpful. He even gave me the +name of an Ifugao priest who would help us. A man by the name of +Poison." + +Angel didn't seem to think the name was odd, so Rick said nothing. + +"I live alone," Angel continued. "I went home that evening to pack my +stuff, so I would be ready to go to the hotel to meet you early in the +morning. Nangolat was waiting, and he had a gun. He made me turn around, +then he said, 'Angel, I am sorry. I only do this for the good of my +people, not for myself.' There was a great blow on the back of my head +and I knew nothing more. I woke up in the St. Luke Hospital. They said I +had a fractured skull, at first. But they were wrong." + +"Thank heavens," Rick said. "You were lucky." + +"So lucky," Angel agreed. "What I can never know is why Nangolat did not +take my head. Before, I thought he was very civilized and intelligent. +But when I saw him in my nipa hut, he was crazy. He did not talk crazy, +but he was. It was in his eyes. When I saw him and the gun in his hand, +and then I saw his eyes, I knew I was dead. But I did not know why, +because he was my friend." + +"Do you know why now?" Scotty asked. + +"No. It does not matter. It only matters that he was my friend and he +gave me no chance. He did not fight me, although we are evenly matched. +He struck me from behind. I will go with you now to the Ifugao country, +and perhaps we will find this Nangolat. When I find him I will know what +to do." + +Angel's tone was not angry, nor did he sound as though he were +threatening. It was as though he had said that tomorrow it would rain. +But Rick and Scotty decided that they would not like to be in Nangolat's +shoes. + +"Did you tell Dr. Okola?" Scotty asked. + +For the first time, Angel's eyes fell. "No. I was ashamed to him." + +Rick recognized the odd phrase as a literal translation of a Spanish +idiom. He also understood why Angel had not told Okola. The Filipino +archaeologist had entrusted the Americans to Angel's care, and Nangolat +had taken his place. It didn't matter that Angel couldn't help it. He +had lost face. He would not return to Okola until he had made amends. + +"If your head was so badly hurt that the doctors thought your skull was +fractured, I'm surprised that they let you out of the hospital," Rick +said. + +"They did not let me. I walked out. Then I caught rides until I got into +Baguio a few minutes ago. If you had not been here, then I would have +followed you to Bontoc." + +Scotty asked, "Angel, what do you know of Mr. Irineo Lazada?" + +Angel spat. "He has power. He has many friends. All his friends are +thieves. Some are mighty thieves, but he is the greatest one of all. The +Secretary, who is his boss, is a fine man, and he will believe no evil +of this Lazada. No one will speak against him so the Secretary and +President can hear, because if such words are spoken, the body of the +speaker will be found floating down the Pasig next morning. This is +understood by all, and those who have proof are afraid. I have no proof, +or I would speak myself. To know is one thing. But to prove is another." + +"Do you know an American named Nast?" + +"Yes. He is a smuggler. Again, there is no proof. Sometimes the ones who +smuggle for him are caught, but he is not, because he does no smuggling +himself." + +"What does he smuggle?" Rick asked. He was searching for some clue that +might be useful. + +"Anything. Chinese who cannot get visas to enter the Philippines. He +brings many of them up from Borneo. Crude rubber. Gems from Siam. He +used to run guns, but the supply ran out. They were American war surplus +guns, stolen by the truckload after the war and sold to smugglers like +Nast. Now there are no more." + +"What's Lazada's tie-up with Nast?" + +Angel shrugged. "This is gossip. Lazada has a yacht. Who would search +the private yacht of the great Assistant Secretary? Even though it was +well known that the yacht had been to Macao or Hong Kong and was loaded +with contraband?" + +Rick swiftly outlined the events of the morning to Angel. "We must find +Dr. Briotti," he concluded. "What do you suggest?" + +Angel thought it over, now and then raising a hand gingerly to his +bandaged head. "Everything Nast wants is in the Ifugao country, no? He +can only want the gold, and it is there. When Dr. Okola told me of this +golden skull you seek, I was afraid, for there are still many bad men in +the Philippines who want gold. Now Nast is after it. Maybe others. I do +not think Nangolat wants gold, but he is an Ifugao. Also, his interest +is in the Ifugao country. It can be nowhere else." + +Angel's English sometimes had a queer, rather formal phrasing, but it +was clear. And so, apparently, were his thoughts. Rick accepted his idea +about everything pointing to the Ifugao country. + +"Then we should go to Ifugao." + +"You have a plane. We should fly over the road to Bontoc and look for +the truck and the sedan with Dr. Briotti. If we see them, we can come +back to Baguio and telephone. The road to Bontoc is one way only. Only +one car at a time can travel." + +"One way?" Scotty inquired. "You can't mean that. How would people get +back and forth?" + +"I am not clear," Angel apologized. "What I mean is the road is too +narrow for cars going both ways. So the road has been divided in parts +by gates. Maybe a car is going to Bontoc. It arrives at Gate One. The +gatekeeper lets it through, then he calls Gate Two and says he has let a +car come north. Maybe another car is going from Bontoc to Baguio. He +reaches Gate Two, and the gatekeeper makes him wait until the car from +Gate One reaches him. Then he lets the car to Baguio go through and +calls the gatekeeper at Gate One and says a car is coming. Then he lets +the car going to Bontoc go through his gate and he calls Gate Three and +says that a car is coming." + +"I see," Scotty nodded. "One gate at a time. A car might be able to go +through three or four gates, and then have to wait for a car coming the +other way." + +"That is it. There are many gates. I forget exactly how many. Also, to +get from Bontoc to Banaue there is a road with gates." + +Banaue was in the Ifugao country, in the heart of the rice terraces. It +was their destination. + +"Let's go," Rick said. + +He had worked out a plan. The plane could scout the road quickly and +easily. By air it was only a short distance to Bontoc, but by road it +was several hours of driving because of the twists and turns. If they +could spot the truck or a sedan with four men in it, they could return +to Baguio and phone, and the vehicles could be held up at one of the +many gates. + +Scotty's thoughts were apparently the same, because Rick knew exactly +what he meant when he said, "The sedan will give us trouble. We'll just +have to hope that we can fly low when we see one, and try to catch a +look at the people in it." + +"That won't be very satisfactory," Rick said. "When we get to the +airport, we'll have Angel pump those workmen some more. If they're still +there. Like a pair of real meatheads, we forgot to ask for details, such +as what color the sedan was." + +They were fortunate. The workmen were still pecking away at the runway +shoulders. And they did recall the color of the sedan. It was dark +green. But they didn't know enough about cars to know the make, and they +had noticed no special details. + +"Have you flown before?" Rick asked Angel. + +"Yes. But not in such a little plane. Only the big PAL planes." + +The air-lines office was open now. Rick got his keys, arranged for +gasoline, and they moved the Sky Wagon into position. There was plenty +of gas for a short trip, but he was taking no chances. He wanted a full +tank. + +It took time to recheck the plane carefully, to make sure Nangolat had +not sabotaged it. Then, finally, they were on their way. Scotty had a +map spread across his knees and Angel had another. Scotty's map showed +topographical details like the height of mountains and their contours. +Angel had an excellent road map distributed by one of the American +gasoline companies that maintained service stations in many parts of the +islands. + +Angel watched the roads and Scotty the mountains, and they got on the +Bontoc Road with no trouble. Rick climbed until they could see for +miles. It was the only way to follow the tortuous route of the road as +it wound between mountains, hugged the side of high peaks, and dipped +into forested valleys. + +Now and then they could see an Igorot village far below, but this was +mostly uninhabited country. On Scotty's map, not so far away, were great +white patches marked with a single word: UNEXPLORED. It seemed +incredible that after nearly fifty years of American Government and a +few years of independence, the island of Luzon, seat of the capital, had +unexplored areas. But it was true. + +Rick knew that he need not watch the road carefully for a little while, +except to follow it. If the truck and sedan were headed for Bontoc and +Banaue they had a good start. He doubted that they were traveling +together. + +"You know," he said, "we're not so smart." + +"I've always known it," Scotty replied. "But what have we done that's +especially stupid?" + +"We could have phoned the first gate and asked if the truck and sedan +had passed through." + +Scotty groaned. "You are so right!" + +Angel spoke from the rear seat. "True, true! It is my fault. I am +ashamed to you that I did not think of it." + +Rick suspected that it hurt Angel to be so humble and admit that he was +ashamed. He looked like a proud man, one used to holding his head high. + +"We liked Nangolat," he said. "We thought he was Angel Manotok. He had +all your papers. We didn't doubt him because he looked like a fine man. +We were taken in, all right." + +Angel seemed to cheer up a little. "Yes? Then perhaps you understand how +it was easy for him to catch me and try to kill me when I also liked him +and thought he was my friend." + +"That's easy to understand," Scotty told the Filipino. "No one could +blame you, Angel." + +"You are good to say it," Angel replied. He seemed relieved. + +Rick knew that they had made a friend by expressing their understanding. +Before, Angel would have done his best because of Okola. Now, he +thought, Angel would do his best because he knew they were friendly and +understood how a man's pride can be hurt even when it is not his fault. + +"We'd better start keeping an eye peeled," Scotty advised. + +They flew in silence, inspecting the road below. There was almost no +traffic. Since leaving Trinidad Valley they had seen only the Bontoc +bus, a brilliant orange speck on the road below, and two jeeps. They had +identified the gates easily. Once they passed a gate where a south-bound +panel truck waited. Rick knew that the truck driver couldn't know what +kind of vehicle he waited for, but from the air it could be seen that +the Bontoc bus was the only moving thing between the two gates. + +The Sky Wagon was just above the tops of a series of mountain peaks and +steep ridges. The road clung to the sides of the peaks like a dusty +brown ribbon. Rick turned up the heater a little because it was cold at +eight thousand feet. + +Then he lost the road. So did Angel and Scotty. Astonished, Rick +circled. He picked up the road again, followed it, lost it once more. + +"Where does it go?" he wondered. + +"Let's go see," Scotty suggested. + +Rick examined the terrain. Their quarry might be on the lost section of +the road. He had the choice of going down for a look, or finding where +the road emerged and circle for a while. He elected to go down. + +The Sky Wagon lost altitude in a long slip toward the valley floor. Rick +and the others kept an eye on the point where the road vanished, and in +a few moments the mystery was solved. The road reached a cliff +approximately a mile long and a half mile high. The road was about two +thirds of the way up. To get past the cliff it had been necessary to cut +a shelf into the cliff itself. + +"Wow! Notching that cliff must have been some job!" Scotty exclaimed. +"No wonder we couldn't see the road from the air." + +Rick flew parallel to the cliff until he had to climb to get over a +ridge. Below, the road emerged from the overhang and was clearly visible +again. He gained altitude. + +"Just had a happy thought," he said. "Wouldn't it be nice if the weather +closed in? Here we are flying visual contact through some of the +trickiest mountains I've ever seen. I'm going to keep an eye on the +compass. You two concentrate on the road. If we do get weather, I want +to be able to fly a reasonable course back to Baguio." + +"Didn't you get a weather briefing at the airport?" Scotty asked. + +"Yes. Such as it was. Mostly it was local Baguio conditions and a brief +report on Manila." + +"Something ahead," Angel called. + +"I see it," Scotty answered. "A truck of some kind. Take a look, Rick." + +Rick surveyed the landscape ahead, saw that he would not get into +difficulty by losing altitude, and went down for a look. He couldn't get +closer than a thousand feet, but that was ample. It was a load of +lumber, although the truck was much like theirs. + +"What color is it?" Scotty asked. + +"Hard to tell. Ours was gray. This one looks brown." + +"Could be dust," Angel offered. "Dirt road below, plenty dusty. But +there are lumber mills up in this part of the province. Perhaps that is +just one of their trucks. You had no lumber, did you?" + +"No. Our truck had only two crates on it. Besides, Angel--I mean +Nangolat--must be far beyond this point. He left last night early." + +"How do you know?" Angel asked curiously. + +"Yeah," Scotty echoed. "You sound sure." + +"He got the scanner, didn't he? There was a risk that we might find out +that it was gone. He wouldn't hang around the airport knowing that we +might find out about the theft, would he?" + +"Good point," Scotty agreed. + +"I heard of this earth scanner," Angel said. "Dr. Okola told me. It +takes pictures of what is inside the ground, no?" + +"Not exactly pictures," Scotty said. "It shows a kind of wave pattern. +You'll see how it works." + +Rick snorted. "Optimist. What makes you so sure?" + +"We'll get it back," Scotty said calmly. "No smart Ifugao is going to do +us in the eye, chum. Not without a fight. We'll find Tony and we'll find +the scanner. Then we'll clobber pal Nangolat--or let Angel do it--and +get to work." + +"What do we do with Nast?" + +"We get nasty with Nast." + +Rick groaned. "That pun, pal, is strictly cornball." + +"I've always wanted to be a pun pal," Scotty said. + +Far ahead, green shelves gave a regular pattern to the base of one +mountain. Rick pointed them out to Angel. "What's that?" + +"Igorot rice terraces." + +"Igorot? I thought the rice terraces were Ifugao." + +"The Igorots have them, too. They are not so--I don't have the word for +it. Big, make one open the eyes in wonder, very fine. The kind of thing +that makes you feel surprise here." Angel put his hand on his stomach. + +"Breath-taking?" Scotty suggested. "Spectacular?" + +"Yes. Both. These Igorot terraces are nothing. Wait until you see the +terraces at Banaue." + +Three pairs of eyes scanned the road ahead. It was deserted. + +"Tell us about rice," Rick asked. "There was rice below when we flew to +Baguio, too." + +"Yes. A great deal of rice. You passed over Pampanga Province, which is +called the rice bowl of the Philippines. That rice is grown in paddies, +which are fields with little earth walls around them called dikes. The +paddies can be flooded. Rice needs much water. Down there, though, the +land is flat." + +Scotty pointed to a razorback ridge. "This land sure isn't flat." + +"No, but the Igorot and Ifugao workers make it flat by building +terraces. Each terrace is like a little paddy. It can be flooded, just +as the lowland paddies are. The water comes from the mountains in pipes +made of bamboo." + +"It must be quite a water system," Rick observed. + +"Yes. There are miles of bamboo pipes, but no water is wasted. The water +is put into the upper terraces, then it runs by itself through openings +down to the lower terraces." + +"Is the rice the same?" + +"Nearly. There is another kind called highland rice that is planted like +wheat. We have a little wheat, too, but not enough to feed many people. +The highland rice is not very good. Paddy rice is better." + +Rick was interested. He continued his questioning. "Are the paddies +flooded all the time?" + +"Oh, no. They are flooded before the rice is planted. You know we do not +plant seed in the paddies? We plant baby rice plants which are grown in +special places. The little plants are pushed into the mud after the +paddy is flooded. Then the water is left for a while. But if we left it +all the time, the plants would rot. So after a while we let the water +out and only let in enough to keep the rice growing." + +They were over the terraces now. Beyond them, Rick saw brown houses that +looked like beehives. It was an Igorot village. + +"We'll reach Bontoc soon," Angel said. + +"No truck and no sedan," Scotty added unhappily. "They couldn't have +reached Bontoc, could they?" + +"The truck could have, easily, if Nangolat drove during the night." + +"Then we'll have to keep hunting past Bontoc right into Banaue." + +Angel tapped Rick on the shoulder and pointed ahead. "There is Bontoc." + +Nestled in the mountains on the bank of a river was the town of Bontoc, +a small cluster of wooden and grass houses. Rick saw that the dirt road +had changed to a black top. + +"I'm going to look for a place to land." + +Scotty nodded. "Good idea." + +Rick waited until the town was directly below, then he sized up the +terrain and began to lose altitude in a tight spiral. It was in +situations like this that the Sky Wagon's flaps came in handy. He pulled +the control down and the movable sections on the trailing edges of the +wings moved down in response. He began to lose speed. + +When he was five hundred feet over the town he flew parallel with the +road, searching for wires and other hazards. There were wires, but they +entered the town from the south, then branched west, toward Banaue. To +the north there were no wires, nor any other hazards he could see. And +the road looked level. He picked a stretch at the edge of the little +town where the houses were far apart. They were primitive little +dwellings made of straw tied together in bundles. He hoped his prop wash +wouldn't blow them apart. + +"Hang on," he said. "Here we go." + +The movement of rice stalks in a paddy near the road gave him wind +direction. He should land from the north. He circled, got into position, +and started in. Scotty leaned forward, eyes peeled for obstructions. + +There was excitement in the town below. People in Western clothes and in +scant breechcloths or tight skirts of Igorots were running into the open +to see what was making the racket. Rick hurried the landing a little, +afraid the people would clutter up the strip of road he had chosen. He +put the Sky Wagon down with no sign of a bump and braked to a stop. +Then, because children were getting near, outstripping their elders in +haste to see the plane, Rick cut the engine. + +Two Igorot boys, perhaps fourteen years old, were the first to reach the +plane as the three climbed out. The Igorots had the chopped-off bowl +haircut, and they wore breechcloths and nothing else. They stared at the +plane, wide-eyed, then one said something to his friend in guttural +Igorot. + +Angel Manotok grinned. Rick asked, "Did you understand?" + +"Yes. I speak Igorot." + +Scotty said, "They probably were talking about the great sky bird. That +right, Angel?" + +Angel's grin broadened. "Not exactly. The English equivalent would be +slang. What he said corresponded to 'Hey, bud, get a load of the real +snazzy four-place job. And dig that retractable landing gear!'" + +The boy who had spoken looked at Angel with suspicion. "You no Igorot," +he accused. + +Angel chuckled. "You no Englishman, but you speak English." + +The boy laughed. "Okay, Mac. My name Pilipil. I learn plenty plane stuff +at Clark. Dig holes there for pay. See many plane." + +Rick and Scotty got over their amazement. It was obvious that the boys +were more than fourteen years old. Their short stature and unlined faces +were deceptive. + +"How old are you, Pilipil?" Rick asked. + +"Eighteen." + +Rick wanted to know more about the boy who had worked as a laborer at +the American Air Force Base at Clark Field, but there was no time +because the rest of the crowd had arrived. The boys found themselves +surrounded by Filipinos and Igorots, all chattering with obvious +excitement and interest. + +A Filipino who was obviously someone of importance pushed his way +through the crowd. He was dressed in a business suit, complete with +starched shirt and tie, an odd rig for such a primitive village as +Bontoc, Rick thought. The man was smoking a cigar with one hand and +carrying a cane with the other. He hung the cane over the wrist on the +cigar hand and held out the other. + +"I am the district road commission. Leocadio de los Santos, at your +service. Mr. Lazada informed me by letter that I was to place my entire +resources at your disposal. You are Mr. Brant, Mr. Scott, and Dr. +Briotti?" + +"Dr. Briotti is not with us," Rick replied. "This is Mr. Manotok." + +"Ah. Delighted. Please come to my office so we may talk quietly." + +Rick looked doubtful. "We shouldn't leave the plane." + +"Do not fear. It will be perfectly safe." + +Santos switched to the native language, speaking briefly and with +authority. The crowd obediently fell back a few paces, leaving a cleared +area around the plane. The road commissioner had the situation under +control, all right. + +Nevertheless, Angel Manotok said, "I will wait here." + +Rick nodded. That was best. He and Scotty followed Santos to the office, +a few hundred feet down the street. The office was on the second floor +of a frame building. The first floor was a work area filled with tools, +including a bulldozer and a road scraper. + +Before discussing business, Santos insisted on refreshment. He clapped +his hands and a dungaree-clad Filipino workman appeared. Santos spoke. +In a few moments the workman reappeared. Both boys were surprised when +he offered them their favorite American beverage. It seemed strange to +be sipping coke in a place inhabited by primitive people clad in +breechcloths, some of them armed with short spears. + +Rick got down to business. "Can you find out if a truck and a green +sedan have passed through Bontoc?" + +"What kind of truck, please?" + +Rick described it. "We don't have the make of the sedan. It may have had +five men in it." He couldn't believe that the sedan had reached Bontoc, +however. + +Santos picked up his phone, reached down, and whirled a crank. The phone +rang. He spoke Ilokano into it, then received a reply from the other +end. He spoke again, then hung up. "That was the gateman at the edge of +town. No truck and no sedan passed through here today." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +Ifugao Country + + +There was only one difficulty, but it was a major one. Rick didn't know +whether or not the district road commissioner could be believed. Santos +was Lazada's man. + +The boys finished their cokes before Rick decided on a course of action. +If Santos was lying, they would find out soon enough. So, for the +present, they would assume that he was telling the truth, and that he +could be trusted. + +"Is the province peaceful up this way?" Rick asked. + +"Oh, yes." Santos replied. "It is usually very peaceful. Sometimes on +the road south there is a holdup, but the Igorots in Bontoc and the +Ifugaos at Banaue cause no trouble." + +"Glad to hear it," Scotty said. "When we start digging, some of the +Ifugaos may get upset. I'm glad to hear that they're not often riled +up." + +"What are your plans?" Santos asked. + +Rick shrugged. "It is hard to know where to begin. Before we plan our +campaign to locate the place where we dig, we must survey the terraces. +Is there any sort of field where I could land at Banaue?" + +"No," Santos replied with great positiveness. "Once you see the terraces +you will see for yourself that there is no place." + +Rick stood up and Scotty followed suit. "I think perhaps we had better +fly over to Banaue and see the terraces. Then we will have a better +understanding of our problems. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. De +los Santos." + +"It is nothing. But tell me. Isn't there another in your party? Another +American?" + +"Yes. How did you know?" + +"Oh, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior phoned personally. He +described all of you, and said to do everything possible to make your +visit interesting and successful." + +"That was very good of him," Rick said. "We will be back again, perhaps +tomorrow. Will you be here?" + +"I believe so. If I am not, it will be because I am inspecting a road +section. Never am I gone long." + +Santos lingered to give instructions in the native language to one of +his men, and Rick took advantage of the few seconds to whisper to +Scotty: + +"I'll stall him. Get back to the plane. Have Angel make a deal with +those Igorot boys to keep an eye on the road. I want another spy in +Bontoc besides someone we know is Lazada's man. You know what's needed." + +Scotty did. He hurried off to do what was necessary. Rick waited for +Santos, then asked the commissioner to point out the road to Banaue. "I +plan to follow the road in my plane. Do you think that is all right?" + +Santos did. "You may lose the road in the clouds as you cross the top of +the mountain range that divides the Igorot tribe from the Ifugaos, but +you should then be able to see Banaue. Will you come back here after you +have seen the terraces?" + +"Not today. We probably will be back tomorrow in a jeep. The plane is +handy, but we can't land at Banaue, you say." + +"You will see. And I will see you tomorrow. Then you can tell me how the +terraces look from the air." + +"Better still," Rick promised. "Next time I have the plane here, I'll +take you to see for yourself." + +Scotty winked as Santos and Rick approached the plane, and Rick knew +that Scotty and Angel had been able to make a deal with Pilipil, the +Igorot boy, and his friend. The party shook hands with Santos, then +climbed into the plane. The crowd of natives moved away from the road as +Rick started the engine, then turned the plane and taxied down the road +to the take-off point he had selected. He was a little nervous, for fear +a child might dart into the road while he was picking up flying speed, +but the crowd was well-disciplined and held steady as the Sky Wagon +roared past and climbed. + +"We now have Pilipil and his pal working for us," Scotty said when they +were air-borne. + +"They're smart boys," Angel added. "They'll be able to report on every +car and every person passing through Bontoc from now until we get back." + +Rick nodded. "Good. But I'm still worried. We've done everything we +could think of, but there's no pay-off. We still haven't found Tony. We +were sure whoever kidnaped him would head for the Ifugao country, but +there were no sedans on the road today. How do we know Tony isn't hidden +somewhere near Baguio? How do we know he's still alive?" + +Scotty put a hand on his shoulder. "Why wouldn't he be alive? Who would +gain anything by his death? We have to remember that the gimmick in this +whole business is a golden skull. Nast wants it, Nangolat wants it, +Lazada wants it, and we want it. No one has it." + +Rick gained altitude steadily, keeping an eye on the twisting road +below. "All right. I'll go along with your reasoning. Whoever wants the +golden skull has to go to Banaue to find it. It can't be found--unless +by a lucky accident--without the earth scanner. And who has the +scanner?" + +"Nangolat." + +"Can he use it?" + +"No." + +Rick shrugged. "Tony can use the scanner, though. We suspect that Nast +has Tony. The question is what is the relationship between Nangolat and +Nast?" + +Below the Sky Wagon the high green mountains marched in a series of +ridges from horizon to horizon. This was the divide between Igorot and +Ifugao country. Rick let the conversation lag as he searched below and +ahead for a landmark. There was a little cloud cover around him, as +Santos had predicted. + +Then the cloud was past and the three looked down into the great valley +of Banaue. + +Rick and Scotty gasped. It was incredible! As far as they could see, the +mountains on either side of the valley were sculptured into irregular +green steps, or terraces. The smallest terrace was perhaps only a few +feet square, while the larger ones were the size of a football field. +They rose in an irregular triangle right to the base of the clouds. +There was no particular pattern. The Ifugao farmers had simply used +every possible inch of space to make terraces for the growing of rice. +In some places the step from one terrace to the next was only a foot or +two. In other places the step up to the terrace above was forty feet. + +The retaining walls of the terraces were native stone, irregular pieces +laid together by expert Ifugao masons without benefit of mortar or +concrete. The same method had been used to make the great wall of China. + +Rick found his voice. "I've seen pictures, but they didn't tell even +part of the story. This is fantastic!" + +"It's the most wonderful job of engineering I've ever seen," Scotty +agreed. "And when you think that the engineers are primitive people, +with only hand tools, that makes it even more wonderful." + +Angel Manotok had seen the terraces before, he said, but added, "I'm +glad to see them from the air. You can understand now why Santos said +there was no place to land." + +Rick certainly could understand. The only level places in the entire +valley were the flat surfaces of the terraces, and no terrace was large +enough to land on. In fact, most terraces were too small even for a +carabao, the native water buffalo, to drag a plow across them. The +Ifugao rice planters had to farm their terraces by hand. + +There was no use looking for a landing place in the immediate vicinity +of Banaue. + +"We'd better take a swing down the valley, just to get a good look, then +head back for Baguio," Rick said. + +"Good idea," Scotty agreed. "We need to lay some plans and then get +busy. Can you fly fairly low?" + +"Yes. There's room enough in the valley to make turns, so we won't get +trapped. Let's go down and look." + +The town of Banaue was easy to find. A double row of stores was situated +on a single unpaved street atop a slight plateau in the valley bottom. +The Sky Wagon sped over it, bringing the storekeepers and their few +customers running out to look. + +"The Ifugaos live in villages around the valley," Angel said. He pointed +to one or two of them, clinging to the mountainside between terraces. +The huts were of straw bundles, discolored by smoke and dust. "The +stores have kerosene, thread, matches, tobacco, salt, oil, perhaps a +little cloth. The Ifugaos do not need much--or, if they need it, they do +not know that they do." + +Rick thought that one over as he climbed out of the valley and set a +compass course south to Baguio. The course would intersect the Bontoc +Road, which he would then follow into town. + +"What's our next step?" he asked. + +"We've got to find Tony, of course. I have a hunch that we weren't +thorough enough in looking over the Bontoc Road. Nangolat _had_ to be on +it. Where else could he go? Or where else _would_ he go?" + +"That lumber could have been camouflage," Angel offered. + +Rick's first reaction was to ask what lumber, then he remembered that an +Army truck like theirs, but loaded with lumber, had been on the Bontoc +Road. + +"Of course! Who would suspect a load of lumber, especially since this is +lumber country?" + +Scotty nodded. "It's possible. Tomorrow we'll go back to Bontoc, and if +Nangolat was driving that lumber truck, Pilipil and company will know +it. Tonight we'll cover Baguio again to make sure our enemies aren't +still around. Perhaps we can find Chahda." + +"If we haven't found Dr. Briotti by tomorrow night," Angel said, "we +should go to the police." + +"There's someone else we'll visit first," Rick said grimly. "And that's +Mr. Irineo Lazada!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Ambush + + +The hotel had received no word of Tony Briotti. Rick and Scotty hadn't +really expected any word. They were certain that he had been kidnaped by +Nast. Even the reason for the kidnaping was no longer important. What +was important was to rescue Tony. + +Angel Manotok left before the boys were ready for dinner. He hoped to +pick up some information at various places he knew around town. Perhaps +gossip which might be useful. Perhaps someone had seen something unusual +which could have a bearing on the young archaeologist's disappearance. +Angel promised to report back later. He would spend the night in Tony's +room. + +Rick and Scotty decided to have dinner, and then talk with some of the +local Americans about the best place to buy a jeep. If possible, they +wanted to pick one up after dinner, get it ready to travel, and have it +standing by the next morning early. + +They did not talk much at dinner. They were more worried about Tony than +either of them would admit, and Rick was feeling a little ill at ease +because they hadn't notified the police. He had talked it over with +Angel, but the Filipino guide had said, "We'll have to notify them +sooner or later, but it will do no good." + +"Perhaps we should notify the American ambassador at Manila," Rick said +aloud. + +"We should have notified him long before this," Scotty agreed. "But we +always try to do everything ourselves. I guess we'll never learn." + +Angel Manotok appeared in the dining room, eyes searching for the boys. +Rick saw him and waved. Angel came over and slid into a seat. Apparently +he had seen a doctor, because the bandage around his head was a new one. + +"Friend of yours coming this way," he said. "Probably will have dinner +here. Lazada." + +Scotty's lips tightened. "I'll be glad to see him," he assured Angel. "I +want to ask him about his pal Nast." + +Rick's eyes opened wide. "No need," he said. "Look at the door." + +There, just entering were Lazada and Nast, arm in arm! + +The boys waited until they were seated, then walked over to join them. + +"Good evening," Rick said. "I hope you gentlemen are well." + +Lazada and Nast smiled. The Assistant Secretary nodded. "Both quite +well, thank you. And how are you?" + +"Oh, I'm fine," Rick said. "But my friend is giving me a little +trouble." He pulled a chair out from Lazada's table and sat down. Scotty +followed suit. Rick was close to Lazada, while Scotty's chair was nearer +to Nast. + +"Your friend is giving you trouble?" Lazada asked. "Which friend?" + +"This one," Rick said, motioning to Scotty. "He wants to kill Mr. Nast. +I don't think we should kill Mr. Nast, do you?" + +Lazada smiled. "Ask him." + +Rick turned to Nast. "Do you have an opinion, Mr. Nast?" + +Nast was a little pale, but his voice was steady enough. "I certainly +do. I agree with you, Mr. Brant." + +Rick grinned mirthlessly. "You do? I'm glad. Instead of killing you, I +suggested to Scotty that we cripple you. Perhaps a few compound +fractures of the arms and legs." + +Rick could see that neither Lazada nor Nast were as composed as they +seemed. The calm, unearthly discussion was too bizarre. Threats were +something they understood, but not threats like this. + +Scotty spoke for the first time. He addressed Nast. "Because you're a +fellow American I thought the decent thing to do would be just to kill +you outright." + +Nast shuddered visibly. "You're both joking, of course. But it isn't a +very funny joke, I assure you." + +Rick smiled. "No, it isn't very funny. But neither is Dr. Briotti's +disappearance. You'd better tell us where he is." + +"What makes you think Mr. Nast knows?" Lazada asked. + +Rick considered. They had no proof. No one had seen Nast in the sedan +that had taken Tony from the airport. The boys saw movement at the +entrance to the dining room and realized that two Filipinos were +watching them like hawks, and that the hands in their pockets certainly +held pistols. + +Rick shifted tactics. "Do you have much faith in your bodyguards?" + +Lazada raised his eyebrows. "Faith? Of course. They are loyal to me. If +anyone tries to get close to me without my permission, they step in and +remove that person. Or, if anyone should try violence...." + +Rick smiled. "How good do you think they would be against a sniper with +a rifle five hundred yards away?" + +"Obviously, they would be ineffective." + +"Just the point I wanted to make," Rick agreed. "You realize, of course, +that there is no protection against assassination, except to take refuge +in a fortress of some kind and stay there. That's impossible for a +public figure like yourself." + +"True. Your point, then, is what?" + +"That Dr. Briotti has friends with rifles. It would distress us to find +that he had been harmed." + +"It would distress me," Lazada assured them. "I was very much impressed +by Dr. Briotti's knowledge and enthusiasm. I assume that you think I +have some knowledge about his disappearance. I do not." + +"Me either," Nast added hastily. + +Lazada's round face glistened with perspiration. "I will control my +anger, Mr. Brant. I take your age into account. Allow me to remind you, +however, that I am an official of the Philippine Government and that you +are an alien. You are here on sufferance, and you have only such rights +as you can persuade us to give you. Oh, I know there are agreements. But +let us be realistic. Do not force me to lose my temper and do something +for which I would be sorry." + +"All right." Rick rose. "I'm not as enthusiastic about this expedition +as I used to be, but we're going through with it, anyway, starting +tomorrow. The sooner we finish, the better for everybody." He looked at +Nast. "Except you. I can only promise you that your pal Lazada will +never be able to give you the golden skull to smuggle into China." + +The boys walked back to their own table and left Nast and Lazada staring +after them. That would give them something to chew over, Rick thought. + +"I'm not sure that we were smart," Scotty said when they were seated +once more. "I'm sure Nast had something to do with Tony's disappearance, +but I can't tell you why I'm sure. Was it wise to throw it up to them?" + +Rick shrugged. "Maybe not. But it's done now." + +The boys slept with locked windows and doors, but they slept soundly. +Down the hall, Angel also regained strength and optimism while he slept, +so that the three awoke the next morning with a determination to make +some real progress. They had followed their plans and obtained a jeep +the night before. But they would need blankets and warmer clothing, +unless their supplies could be recovered. + +Over breakfast, Scotty estimated their chances. "Suppose we find out +that the truck is somewhere in the Ifugao country. Would that guarantee +our getting it back? No, it would not. So, we'd better write off the +stuff in the truck as lost." + +Fortunately, stores open early in Baguio, and the boys were able to buy +the things they needed. Scotty also bought an extra five-gallon gasoline +can for the jeep. Then Angel and Scotty loaded their few belongings into +the vehicle, shook Rick's hand, and headed for Bontoc. + +They had agreed that it might be convenient to have the Sky Wagon at +Bontoc, too, so Rick would fly up later, planning to arrive at about the +same time. Now, he sat down in the hotel lobby and penned a note to the +American ambassador, describing the events of yesterday and telling of +their future plans. He gave the note to the desk clerk, with +instructions that it was not to be sent for three days. + +Rick figured that at the end of that time he would either reclaim the +note, or that all of them would be in need of help, and the American +ambassador would get the letter and use it as a reason for sending a +strong note to the Philippine Government, or maybe call out the Marines, +the Navy, and the Air Force. Rick was a little vague on just what would +happen. + +The note written, he tried to read for a while. Scotty and Angel were +not well started, and it would be pointless for him to go on to Bontoc +alone. He wondered where Chahda was, and what he was doing. The Hindu +boy had his own way of operating, and it was one Rick and Scotty could +not hope to copy. Chahda had the gift of mimicry. He could fade into a +new background as though he belonged to it. + +Rick hoped that Chahda, somehow, was keeping a protective eye on Tony. + +He couldn't read. He tried napping, but that was no good, either. At +last, unable to remain idle a moment longer, he took a taxi to the +airport, topped off the Sky Wagon's tanks with gas, checked the plane +thoroughly, got a weather report and took off. + +He climbed to fifteen thousand feet and scanned the terrain for +landmarks. He spotted Mount Panay to the west, verifying its name on the +map. Then he picked up the Bontoc Road and searched for the highest +point, where it emerged from the valleys and swung across a peak over +seven thousand feet above sea level. + +If he had estimated Scotty's travel time correctly, the jeep should just +now be emerging into the brilliant sunlight of the peaks. He wished for +binoculars, but they had failed to bring any, one of those oversights +that happen on any expedition. + +There was a little traffic on the road. A car of some kind was at the +peak, probably stopped to allow the occupants to see the magnificent +view. Then he saw that the car was being driven off the road into a +grove of trees just beyond the peak. That was odd. + +He identified the jeep. In a moment or two it would be at the peak. He +would go down and wave. Then he would go back to the airport, have +lunch, and fly on to Bontoc. That way, he would get there only slightly +ahead of Scotty and Angel. + +He lost altitude. Below, men were getting out of the car which had +driven into the scant cover of a scrub-pine grove. Rick watched as they +walked to the peak. Sunlight reflected from metal. Probably lunch boxes, +he thought. The men were going to have their picnic lunch while looking +over the wonderful mountains of northern Luzon. Good idea. Probably that +was why they had parked the car off the road. + +Then he saw that they were not stopping at the peak, but were taking +positions along the road a short distance beyond it. Again, sunlight +glinted from metal as one of them sat down in a copse just off the road. + +Sweat suddenly poured on Rick's forehead. He wasn't watching simple +picnickers! He was watching an ambush being set up--and it could only be +for one vehicle, because there was only one in sight along the miles of +twisting highway. + +Scotty and Angel! + +Rick spun the Sky Wagon up on a wing and let it slide. He held the slide +for long moments while the altimeter ticked off the lost altitude. Not +until it registered eight thousand feet did he level off, only a +thousand feet above the mountaintops. For a moment he couldn't see +Scotty and Angel, then he saw them climbing toward the peak at a good +speed. In about twenty seconds they would reach it. + +He gauged the amount of clearance he had. It wasn't much. Then he put +the stick forward and dove for the road. He leveled off so low that his +prop wash kicked up dust. The jeep seemed to rush at him and he had a +glimpse of Scotty's surprised face, then he was roaring up in a climb +that flattened him against the seat. He leveled off and looked for the +jeep. It was still moving ahead. + +Rick groaned. Scotty thought he was just playing! He should have written +a note and dropped it, but now there was no time. The jeep would be in +the ambush before he could let his friends know why he had buzzed them. + +He was helpless. There wasn't anything in the Sky Wagon that he could +throw at the enemy. But he could at least try to make them keep their +heads down. He roared in for the attack, aiming at the places where the +attackers waited. + +The ambushers had the advantage. All they had to do was sit still. Rick +could not hurt them without cracking up the plane and actually landing +on them. Still, it was terrifying to have the plane roar past scarcely +two feet above one's head, and Rick knew the attackers would be worried +about the possibility of an accident. + +One man had weak nerves. On Rick's second pass he stood up and ran, +heading for the comforting shelter of the trees. Scotty saw him. The +jeep braked to a halt. + +Instantly the ambushers opened fire. Scotty and Angel jumped from the +exposed jeep and took to the ditch. Rick dove at the riflemen again and +saw them shoot at him. + +He gained a little altitude and circled, estimating the situation. There +were four attackers, counting the one who had run for the car. That left +three effective ones. Scotty and Angel were unarmed, a grave mistake. +They should have purchased weapons. However, since he had been able to +warn them, the attack had failed. They were in good cover, and as long +as he was overhead, ready to dive on the attackers if they should try +for a better position, the two were all right. + +Rick thought he saw a way out. At least there was no harm in trying. He +took the pad of paper he kept in the door pocket and printed a message +to the attackers. + + YOU HAVE LOST. NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU GO, I CAN FOLLOW. I CAN HAVE + THE POLICE TRAP YOU AT BONTOC OR BAGUIO. I CAN CARRY POLICE TO + BONTOC FASTER THAN YOU CAN DRIVE THERE. BUT IF YOU LEAVE YOUR + RIFLES IN THE ROAD, GO TO YOUR CAR, AND HEAD FOR BAGUIO, I WILL DO + NOTHING. + +He searched for a weight and found his emergency fishing kit, a war +surplus item which he carried in case he might someday find himself at a +good fishing spot without tackle. From the kit he extracted a heavy +sinker. A piece of fishing line completed the rig. He lashed the sinker +to the folded paper. Now to toss it out so it would land among the +attackers. He swung low over the road, gauging his distance. When he saw +the peak rushing at him he released the weighted paper, climbed swiftly, +and saw one of the attackers run to get it. + +Apparently it made sense to the three men. They talked among themselves +for a moment, then carried their rifles to the middle of the road and +went to the car. Scotty and Angel realized that something was going on, +but prudently remained under cover. Not until the ambushers' car roared +past on the way to Baguio did they emerge and wave at Rick. He waggled +his wings, then turned and made a beeline for the city. He wanted guns +and ammunition, and there was no time like the present to buy them! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Warriors Three + + +Rick got guns, but it took time. There were no sporting goods stores in +Baguio. In fact, there were no stores that carried rifles. A few carried +pistols, mostly Italian and English makes. But Rick knew that a pistol +is better for morale than for actual use. Few people can hit anything +with a pistol, and fewer still can hit a moving target. + +He supposed that Scotty and Angel had picked up the rifles of the +ambushers, but since he didn't know the calibers, he couldn't get +ammunition for them. What he finally procured were a shotgun, 12-gauge +with an ample supply of shells, and a United States Army carbine, with +about ten clips. These were private purchases from a store owner who was +willing to sell his personal arsenal. + +It was late when Rick got started for Bontoc. He watched for Scotty and +Angel on the road but failed to catch up with them. They had reached +Bontoc before him, as he found when he circled to land. They cleared the +road and stood by while he brought the Sky Wagon down. + +Angel had already hired two Igorots to guard the plane. They were +tough-looking customers who wore hard-rock miner's helmets, a sign that +they had mined gold in Baguio. + +The Sky Wagon was pulled off the road into a field and the Igorots sat +down next to it, short spears handy to their reach. The plane would be +all right. Rick got into the jeep with Scotty and Angel, and the first +thing he saw was their collection of armaments. They had four rifles, +two of them old Army Springfield rifles, and two carbines. + +"We are now well armed," he said. "Where's the enemy?" + +"After that ambush," Scotty replied, starting the motor, "I'm no longer +sure. We certainly didn't expect that." + +"I think we brought it on ourselves," Rick said. "Last night we gave +Lazada and Nast a hard time. I'll bet Lazada sent out that expedition +just for laughs." A thought struck him. "By the way, where are the two +Igorot boys you hired yesterday? How come they aren't guarding the +plane?" + +"We thought we'd take them with us, as extra hands," Scotty explained. +"They live at the southern edge of town. We're going there now. We've +already talked with Pilipil. He's getting a third boy for us to hire." + +"Hey, take it easy," Rick complained. "Explain as you go. What did +Pilipil say, and why the third boy?" + +"Our truck has gone over the mountain into Ifugao country. It was the +lumber truck, as we might have known. Nangolat was driving, and Tony and +a third man were with them. That was yesterday. We didn't tell Pilipil +and his friend to follow the truck, so they didn't. But a third Igorot +boy did follow, and he returned to Bontoc this morning. He's with +Pilipil now. We'll go pick them up and head for Banaue. And we'll get +Tony." + +Rick was still a little confused, but he guessed Scotty knew what he was +talking about. "Who is the Igorot who trailed our truck?" + +"Don't know. He was sleeping at Pilipil's when we got here." + +Ahead, Pilipil was standing in front of a board shack, waving. It was +evidently his home. The jeep pulled up and Rick, Scotty, and Angel got +out. Pilipil shook hands all around. "You come in," he said. "We talk. +Make plan." + +He led the way into the shack. Within, two other young Igorots were +seated cross-legged on the floor. One of them was Pilipil's friend, +Balaban, who had been with him on the day they first landed. + +The third Igorot--as might have been expected--was Chahda. + +Scotty pointed to the Hindu boy, who was watching them with an impassive +stare, as though he had never seen them before. + +"Pilipil, how do you know this boy good? Can be trusted?" + +Pilipil shrugged and showed betel-stained teeth in a smile. "Not know. +Maybe no good. But say he know you." + +Scotty looked stern. "You. What have you to say for yourself?" + +"Plenty," Chahda said. "Am plenty tired of pulling Spindrift chestnuts +out of fire. You know how cold it gets in these mountain? Last night I +freeze. I almost attack whole Ifugao village barehanded, just to get +blankets from supplies on truck. Tonight you take off clothes, put on +breechcloth, and stand out in cold. I stay in nice warm hotel, in +Baguio. Worrold Alm-in-ack say this tropical country. Hah! Like North +Pole is tropical." + +Rick and Scotty grinned sympathetically. "If you weren't so in love with +being mysterious and adventurous," Rick pointed out, "you could sleep in +comfortable beds in warm rooms. But no. You have to be Chahda the +Vanishing Hindu. And a good thing, too, otherwise Scotty and I would be +floundering most of the time, not knowing where to turn next. Is Tony +okay?" + +Chahda rose. He looked astonishingly like Pilipil and Balaban. From +haircut to bare feet he was an Igorot. Only his brown eyes, +proportionally bigger than those of the real Igorots, were different. + +"Tony is okay. Or was last night. My pal Dog Meat is keeping eye on him. +You see Nast?" + +"In Baguio, last night." Scotty told Chahda of their visit with Nast and +Lazada. + +Chahda nodded. "Nast and Nangolat in cahoots. Nast picks up Tony at +airport, takes him to hut near Trinidad Valley. I see all this. At hut +is Nangolat, with truck of lumber. Nast turns Tony over to Nangolat, so +I drop Nast and follow Tony. Me and Dog Meat, we have fine time. You fly +overhead, too, but see nothing. Not even me. You getting blind, I think. +Lose famous Brant eyesight." + +"We saw the lumber truck," Rick admitted. "But where were you?" + +"Little way behind in jeep." + +Rick remembered that they had seen a couple of jeeps on the road but had +paid no attention. He could see now what had probably happened. +Nangolat, after stealing the earth scanner, had taken the truck to the +hut at Trinidad Valley and camouflaged it with lumber. Tony had gone to +the airport, but had not found Nangolat--he had found Nast. But why? +Rick put the question aloud. + +"Mix up in schedule," Chahda said. "Nast and Nangolat were to meet at +airport and wait for all of you. Catch whole lot at once when you go to +airport in the morning. But Nangolat has luck, and he gets earth +scanner. He takes truck to Trinidad, so you won't find it and get +scanner back. Nast comes to airport in morning, and finds no Nangolat, +but he finds Tony. So he takes Tony and goes to Trinidad Valley to hut +which he knows about, and there is Nangolat." + +"How do you know all this?" Scotty demanded. + +Chahda grinned. "From Nast. He reports to Lazada by telephone. I listen. +Easy. Who would think poor Igorot boy know anything?" + +Rick shook his head in admiration. Leave it to Chahda. "Now what, Master +Spy?" + +Chahda motioned to Pilipil and Balaban. "We three mighty Igorot +warriors. Tonight we lead you to Ifugao, and we get Tony and the truck +and our other stuffs. Then we get to work and find this golden skull." + +"You mean we just walk in and take Tony away from the Ifugaos?" Scotty +demanded. + +"Not that simple," Chahda said. "Ifugaos not wanting to give Tony up, I +think. First he help them find sacred stuff lost for many generations, +then they need new head to sacrifice to sacred stuff, so they use his. +Neat, huh? I think we don't get Tony back without a fight." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Ifugao Village + + +The terraced mountain wall fell away below to the valley floor. Halfway +between Rick and the dark sheen of the river was a level area which +Chahda said was the village. However, it was too dark to see very much. + +"We'll break our necks if we try to climb around among these terraces," +Scotty whispered. + +Chahda admitted, "Good possibility. But what else is there? Later moon +will be up a little. We not go down yet. Study lay of land." + +They had left their jeeps on the roadway that passed above the village. +So far as they knew, no one had seen them approach. Now, perhaps a +hundred feet above the cluster of huts, they sat at the edge of a +terrace and waited for the moon to rise. + +Rick studied the landscape below. His feet dangled over thirty feet of +vertical wall. He would have to make his way down that wall to the next +terrace, and then down the next and the next until he emerged at the +village level. He would be very much like an ant climbing down the three +stone steps at home, except that he wasn't as sure-footed as an ant on +vertical surfaces. + +Then, once the bottom was reached, they had to find Tony, free him, and +take him up the terraces to the jeeps. Rick shook his head. They +probably would have to fight every inch of the way, and there was no +assurance that they would make it. + +In the village below, someone was adding wood to a small open fire in +the central area that served as a village common. Rick could make out +several figures. Scotty moved closer to him. "We need a way to cover our +retreat. Any ideas?" + +"No good ones. We could station a couple of the gang to heave rocks +down." + +"That's probably as good as anything." + +A shadowy figure approached, climbing down the terraces from above. +Chahda whispered, "Dog Meat come. I go see what he finds out." + +Below, the fire was burning more brightly, and Rick could see several +persons bringing wood. Apparently there was to be a large bonfire. He +groaned softly. That meant light to make their task harder. + +Chahda consulted with his friend for a few moments, then rejoined Rick +and Scotty. Angel, Pilipil, and Balaban were grouped at the rear of the +terrace, waiting for instructions. + +"Dog Meat know which hut Tony is in. Has two guards. Nangolat gone +somewhere." + +"Why are they building up the fire?" Rick asked. + +"Not know. I think better we move. We climb down. Dog Meat will take us +to Tony. We cut him loose and fight our way back." + +Suddenly they stiffened as a rhythmic metallic clanging sound floated up +to them. + +Angel Manotok moved to their side. "Ifugao music," he whispered. "I've +heard it before. The instruments are _tinaklings_, like pans, suspended +from human jawbones. They're getting ready for some kind of ceremony +down there." + +"Then we'll wait," Scotty said. "If they get started on some kind of +ceremony, we may have a chance to move in quietly." + +"That makes sense," Rick agreed, and Chahda nodded. + +They crouched on the edge of the terrace and watched as the fire below +grew into a roaring blaze. Men and women could be seen clearly now. The +musicians--if the clanging could be called music--were next to the fire. +Then, the people fell back, and six men and six women took their places +in two lines and began to dance. It was a stiff, formal sort of dance +with little body movement. Hands and arms made gestures which Rick could +not interpret, while the feet shuffled slowly in the dust. + +Scotty touched his shoulder. "Let's go. Chahda, you, Rick, Dog Meat, and +I will go. Angel, Pilipil, and Balaban will stay here to cover our +retreat. Angel, you can use a rifle. Have Pilipil and Balaban pry loose +some big rocks. Use your own judgment. We don't want a war, but we don't +want to lose our heads, either." + +"How about our truck?" Rick asked. + +Chahda replied. "It is not here. Nangolat took it. We get Tony, then we +take the road Nangolat took. Dog Meat knows." + +The fire was bright enough so Rick could see Dog Meat for the first +time. The little Igorot was an older edition of Pilipil. He wore only a +breechcloth and the little pillbox hat in which he kept his matches and +tobacco. His face was wrinkled and gnomelike. + +"Lead on," Rick said. + +Dog Meat went to the edge of the terrace and slipped over. He climbed +down with incredible swiftness. Then Chahda followed. Rick made sure his +carbine was slung tightly across his back, then followed. His feet +groped for toe holds in the rough stone wall of the terrace and found +them without too much difficulty, but his descent was slower than Dog +Meat or Chahda's. He was painfully conscious that he was an excellent +target. Below, chanting voices joined the rhythmic clanging. The sound +of their descent would not be heard. + +Rick reached the bottom of the terrace and found Chahda and Dog Meat +waiting. There were two more terraces to descend before the village +level was reached. In a moment Scotty joined them. Dog Meat led the way +once more. The party made its way down the face of the terrace and +emerged on a level only thirty feet above the village floor. + +Rick was astonished that the villagers had not seen them. He felt very +much exposed to view, even though he realized that the shadows were deep +and that the villagers were not watching the terraces. + +Dog Meat led the way to the extreme end of the next terrace, choosing a +place where the huts would be between the climbers and the fire. Then he +vanished over the edge of the terrace and Chahda followed. Rick picked +his way carefully. There were gaps between the stones, but sometimes he +had to feel with his feet until he found an opening big enough to +accommodate the toe of his shoe. Dog Meat and Chahda had the advantage, +because bare feet could find holds much more swiftly. + +He reached ground level behind a straw hut. Dog Meat and Chahda were +waiting. Chahda had unslung his rifle, and Dog Meat was holding a +razor-edged bolo. Then Scotty was down, too, and they made a close file +behind Dog Meat as he showed them the way to the hut where Tony was +being held. + +The music and voices were loud, now, and the fire made yellow patterns +where they crossed open spaces. Then Dog Meat came to a halt behind a +straw hut and gestured that this was the one. + +Chahda took the bolo from him and made a slit in the straw of the hut. +Then he peered through the opening he had made. Rick and Scotty pushed +close and took turns looking. + +Tony was tied to a post in the center of the hut. The hut door opened +onto the village common, and the only light was that of the fire. +Blocking the light were two figures, Ifugao guards, clad only in +breechcloths. Both held spears. Unlike the Igorot spears, the Ifugao +weapons were tall with flared points. + +Chahda sliced through the straw of the hut with the bolo, parted it, and +stepped through. Rick was close on his heels, rifle unslung and ready +for use. He felt Scotty crowding him. + +The Hindu boy ran to Tony, knelt, and cut his bonds. Rick lifted his +rifle and reached the front of the hut in three long strides. The barrel +of his weapon descended on the head of the nearest Ifugao. Rick caught +the man as he fell. + +The second Ifugao turned, mouth open to yell, and stepped right into a +vicious butt stroke from Scotty's rifle. Chahda was already ushering +Tony through the opening at the rear of the hut. The boys pushed through +and followed at a trot as Dog Meat guided them back the way they had +come. The music was still loud. No one had seen the guards go down. + +The party reached the first terrace and stopped while Tony massaged his +hands. The rope had cut off the circulation. Finally he motioned that he +was ready. He could climb, but slowly. At a whispered word from Chahda, +Rick and Scotty went up the terrace wall and took stations with ready +rifles, in case they should be spotted while Tony was helpless on the +wall. + +Tony reached the top of the first terrace and whispered that he could +move faster now. Chahda and Dog Meat took him to the easiest place to +climb the second wall, while Rick and Scotty waited as a rear guard. + +Tony was halfway up the second terrace when pandemonium broke loose in +the village below. The boys saw the dance break up, saw men rush into +the hut where Tony had been held prisoner and drag out the guards, one +of whom had regained consciousness. The men of the village scattered +into various huts and came out with spears and bolos. + +Rick looked up in time to see Tony's legs disappear over the top of the +terrace wall. He tugged Scotty's arm. "Let's go." + +They swarmed up the wall as fast as their groping hands and feet would +allow, but not before a spear clanged off the stones between them. They +had been spotted! + +Chahda leaned over and grabbed Rick's hand. Rick went up in a hurry, +then both of them pulled Scotty up. Ifugaos were already on the terrace +below! + +Rick realized that the Ifugaos had the advantage. They were used to the +terraces. He also realized that they could be where he now stood before +Tony could get up to where Angel and the Igorots waited. + +He and Scotty unslung their rifles. Chahda joined them, bolo in hand. +Dog Meat would help Tony up. The boys spread out, working by hand +signals. They were a short distance back from the terrace edge, but +close enough to swing at any heads that appeared. + +The first Ifugao pursuer came up the wall near Chahda. The Hindu boy +swung with the flat of his bolo and there was a _thunk_ as he connected. +Then Rick saw a face appear and poked at it with the muzzle of his +rifle. The face vanished and there was a scream as the Ifugao fell. + +Rick winced. It was a long fall, but at least there was soft ground of +the rice paddy at the bottom. + +Another face appeared and Rick swung his rifle barrel, felt it connect, +then answered Angel's yell. "Come on!" + +Scotty triggered off half a dozen shots, then the three boys ran for the +wall and started up. From above, Angel and Tony yelled encouragement. +Angel's rifle blazed away. Pilipil, Tony, and Balaban threw rocks. + +A spear, badly thrown, came sideways through the air and caught Rick +across the legs. He almost lost his footing, but recovered and went up +another step. He didn't dare look down. He knew the Ifugaos were on the +terrace below, but to look down was to lose time. He went up another few +feet, then got stuck unable to find a handhold. + +A hand grabbed him by the ankle! He yelled and kicked. Angel appeared +right over his head and dropped a rock. The rock brushed Rick and found +its target. There was a wild cry and the grip on his ankle was gone. He +moved laterally along the wall until he could move upward again. Angel +and Pilipil caught his arms and pulled him to the top. Chahda arrived at +almost the same moment, then Scotty appeared. + +Rick unslung his rifle. "Let's go! Make a run for it." + +Scotty called, "Angel! Chahda! Go get the jeeps started." + +They had Chahda's jeep as well as their own. Rick caught Tony's arm. +"Are you all right?" + +"Yes. Fine. Where do we go?" + +"Follow Chahda. Scotty and I will bring up the rear." + +Ifugaos poured over the terrace edge and were met by Pilipil and +Balaban. Scotty and Rick joined in, rifles flailing, and in a moment the +terrace was clear again. The temporary victors took to their heels +before the next wave of Ifugaos could arrive. + +Ahead, they heard the jeeps' motors. They would make it all right. + +A spear arched overhead and stuck quivering in the road. Rick snatched +it out of the ground as he passed. Then there was a gasp from Pilipil as +a spear caught him in the thigh. Instantly Scotty knelt, rifle blazing. +Rick and Balaban helped Pilipil while Dog Meat yanked the spear free. +They rushed the wounded Igorot to the waiting jeeps. + +"Let's go," Chahda yelled. "What's the delay?" + +"Lend a hand," Rick called, and willing hands helped lift Pilipil into +Chahda's jeep. Rick tumbled in behind him. + +"All aboard!" Scotty yelled. "Take off!" he fired a last shot at the +oncoming Ifugaos, then jeep wheels spun in the dirt, headlights flashed +on, and they were on their way. + +Not until they had climbed to the safety of the mountain peaks +overlooking Banaue did they pull to a stop. Pilipil's leg was their +first concern. They examined the wound in the glare from the jeep's +headlights. It was ugly, but not crippling, and it was already starting +to clot. Rick bound it with a clean handkerchief. Then, their wounded +taken care of, the boys took time to exchange notes with Tony. + +"I walked right into it," Tony said. "Literally. I walked to the +airport, expecting that I could ride back with Angel. I had a grave +suspicion, of course, that he was Nangolat, but I'm afraid it didn't +occur to me that there was any danger in charging him with it." + +Rick shook his head. "Did you expect him to give up without a struggle?" + +"I'm afraid I did. However, he wasn't there. There was no one on the +field at all, except a couple of workmen on the far side. I went over to +see if the plane was all right, and a sedan arrived. Nast was in it. He +didn't waste words. He just thrust a pistol at me and ordered me in." + +"We have an idea of what happened then," Scotty said. "From Chahda. He +was following Nast." + +"I hoped he was," Tony said. "I was afraid that unless Chahda knew my +whereabouts I probably would be completely cut off from help. Well, time +enough later for the rest of the story. You know I came from Baguio in +our own truck?" + +"We know," Rick said. "Chahda again. Now Chahda is going to lead us to +the truck, and we're going to get our equipment back." + +"Do you know where the truck is?" Scotty asked Chahda. + +"Dog Meat does. Nangolat drove it to a village on the north side of the +valley. Nangolat is there now. Maybe we meet him on the road, maybe at +the village. We make flying raid, okay? Swoop down, take truck, and +leave." + +"Sounds good to me," Scotty said. "We'll use one jeep to attack, with +the other standing by as a flying reserve. Angel, take the reserve jeep +with Pilipil and Balaban. No, I've a better idea. We have too many men. +We need the extra jeep in case of a breakdown, not for the men it will +carry. Pilipil and Balaban should stay here. The rest of us split up +between the two jeeps. When we find the truck, I'll drive it, with +Chahda as guard. That will leave Rick and Tony in one jeep, and Angel +and Dog Meat in the other. Sound all right?" + +It sounded fine. Angel spoke up. "I'd rather be in the first jeep, in +case we meet Nangolat." + +Scotty shook his head. "Not tonight. Your turn will come later, Angel. +The first thing is to get the truck back. Pilipil, will you be all right +here until we get back?" + +"I be fine. You go." + +They loaded into the jeeps while Pilipil and Balaban moved into a clump +of brush and prepared to wait. + +"Don't bother about silence," Scotty said. "We'll just hit and run. If +they hear us coming it won't matter, because they won't be sure what +we're after." + +"How about those Ifugao natives from the village?" Tony asked. "They're +probably swarming over the road like flies." + +"We not go near them," Chahda replied. "The truck is a different way. +Come on, load rifles. We go." + +Rick was driving the lead jeep, Chahda on the seat next to him. Tony and +Dog Meat were in the rear seat. Scotty was with Angel in the other jeep. +The road was reasonably good, although narrow and winding. Rick roared +down into the valley as fast as prudence and Newton's laws of motion +allowed. Had he gone any faster the jeep would have tipped over on some +unexpected corner. + +"Soon we there!" Chahda shouted. + +Rick kept a sharp watch ahead. The yellow cones of light seemed lost in +the vast darkness of Banaue. There were no other lights. + +"Watch for fork in road, go left," Chahda relayed Dog Meat's +instructions. + +The fork appeared. Rick swung left--and almost bashed into the truck. It +was parked with lights out, close to a village. + +Both jeeps slid to a stop. Scotty and Chahda jumped out, rifles ready, +and ran to the truck. "The keys!" Rick yelled. "Are they in it?" + +"Don't need keys!" Scotty yelled back. "Turn around, quick!" + +Angel was already turning his jeep. Rick followed suit, and his +headlights swung in an arc across the Ifugao village and reflected from +spear tips. The natives here had been alerted! + +The truck roared into life. Rick pulled to one side and motioned Scotty +by. Then, as the truck went past, Rick triggered off a half-dozen shots, +aiming high. Tony did the same with the shotgun, sending loads of bird +shot whistling through the red leaves of the dangla bushes. + +A screaming madman leaped at them, spear extended. It was Nangolat, face +distorted with hatred and fury. He thrust at Tony, but the archaeologist +knocked the spear aside. Then, as Nangolat's thrust carried him close, +Tony let loose a roundhouse that caught the Ifugao squarely on the jaw, +whirled him sideways, and dropped him like a log in the dust of the +road. Then Rick let out the clutch and the jeep leaped ahead. A spear +went through the windshield and showered glass on him, but he only +squinted his eyes against the flying splinters and fed the jeep more +gas. + +Ahead were the red taillights of the truck and the other jeep. The plan +had worked, all right. He didn't know whether or not their supplies were +in the truck, but they would soon find out. + +"I'll say one thing about being a Spindrift scientist," Tony said from +beside him. "It is never dull. Do you wild Indians go in for this sort +of thing often?" + +"Only when necessary," Rick said. "Of course it has been necessary +pretty often. So we're in practice, you might say." + +Tony chuckled. "I'm grateful. You know what Nangolat is working up to, I +presume?" + +Rick didn't, and said so. + +"He planned to force me to locate the golden artifacts with the earth +scanner. Then, the find was to be celebrated with the sacrifice of a +head. That was the part I objected to most. You see, the head was to be +mine!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The Peaceful Profession + + +The Spindrift campfire blazed high, and its warmth was welcome in the +cold mountain night. Balaban and Dog Meat were out on patrol, although +it was unlikely that any Ifugao had followed the invaders over the +mountain. + +Camp had been pitched in a grove of trees on the Igorot side of the +divide. The boys and Tony had taken suitable clothing from their +supplies and were now equipped with sturdy trail clothes and warm +leather jackets. Chahda, similarly dressed in spare clothes, now +resembled an Igorot only because of his haircut. + +Tony sipped steaming coffee from a battered mug. He grinned at the faces +around the fire: Rick, Scotty, Angel Manotok, Chahda, and Pilipil, whose +wounded leg had been treated with supplies from the first-aid kit. + +"Archaeologist at work," Tony commented. "Digs in musty old tombs all +day, and now and then gets excited about a clay jug or something else he +uncovers. The archaeologist has nothing but old jugs or beetles or stuff +like that to get excited about. It's a peaceful profession, boys. That's +why I like it. Calm, quiet, orderly." + +Pilipil didn't get the irony in Tony's voice, but the others laughed. + +Scotty nodded agreement. "That's the popular idea of an archaeologist, +all right! Sounds like a recruiting ad, doesn't it? Be peaceful and +quiet. Live to a ripe old age. Be an archaeologist. Reminds me of the +recruiting poster that hooked me once. Join the Marines, it said. See +the world. Learn a trade. I joined. Saw the world while snaking on my +belly through the South Pacific. Learned a trade, too. How to fire a +rifle. Very few peacetime riflemen needed, however." + +"We'll combine our trades," Tony said. "You might say we did, earlier +tonight." + +As Rick put more wood on the fire he said, "We're together, for the +first time. Before, either Tony or Chahda was missing. Now what do we +do?" + +Tony considered. "I must admit I was not giving much thought to the +purpose of the expedition when you came after me. I spent most of my +time imagining how my skull would look on the knick-knack shelf in the +hut." + +"What knick-knack shelf?" Chahda asked. + +"You wouldn't have noticed," Tony told them. "It was high in the rear of +the hut, above the opening you made. A shelf full of skulls. I kept +trying to flatter myself that surely my head would be prettier than +those. But I didn't really believe it." + +"Do you really believe the Ifugaos would have taken your head?" Rick +asked. + +"You bet I do! You should have seen Nangolat. He shed civilization with +his clothes. He got down to a breechcloth and he was all primitive. He's +got a bad case of bats in the belfry, believe me. I'd say he was a true +fanatic." + +"Yes," Angel Manotok said positively. "You remember I tell you about +those eyes of his? The doctor is right. Nangolat is crazy. He is a +killer." + +Rick remembered the crazed, distorted face of Nangolat rushing for the +jeep with spear extended. "I vote Nangolat for nuts, too. Insane and +dangerous." + +"This being Mountain Province, Philippines, I don't think it would do +much good to call the men in white coats to bring a strait jacket," +Scotty observed. "So, what do we do? We can ignore him, avoid him, or +shoot him. The first is hard, since he carries a sharp spear. The second +may be possible. The third I reject as being un-scientific and unkind, +not to mention illegal." + +"One more possibility," Chahda offered. "Catch him, tie him up, have +Scotty talk him into stupor." + +Rick chuckled. "You may have an idea there, Chahda. Seriously, Nangolat +is guilty of kidnaping. That makes him a criminal. Surely it isn't wrong +to catch an escaped criminal and turn him over to justice." + +"Not wrong," Tony said, "but maybe just a little bit impractical." + +Rick pressed the point. "Why? If we thought faster, we could have picked +him up tonight. You knocked him colder than a penguin's pocketbook. We +could have tossed him into the back of the jeep like a sack of bones." + +"Yes, Rick. But chances like that don't come twice. Catching him now +would mean making a definite attempt. It would mean an expedition. I +doubt that he'd stay around to be caught." + +"Guess you're right," Rick admitted. "Then, to get back to Scotty's +question, what do we do now? Apparently Nangolat has his people up in +arms against us. There's no law enforcement worthy of the name up here, +so we can't call for help. So what next?" + +Tony poured himself another mug of coffee from the steaming pot. "We +continue after the cache of artifacts." + +The boys stared. Chahda shook hands with the scientist. "Now I see why +Rick and Scotty call you Tony. Number One regular guy. Why let little +thing like whole nation of head-hunters scare you off?" + +"Archaeology is certainly a peaceful profession," Rick said admiringly. +"Scotty and I don't scare easily, but it didn't occur to me that we +should proceed as though nothing had happened." + +"You're getting the wrong impression," Tony said mildly. "Let's consider +the situation. There's Nangolat, the principal troublemaker. What is his +reason for behaving as he does?" + +"Well," Scotty began, "he certainly was the one who tried to kill you on +the boat." + +"I think he was. He would have known all about the expedition from +Okola. He would have known what ship we were on, and a phone call to the +agent of the line would have told him our arrival time, from which he +could easily have figured what time we would enter Manila Bay. He would +also have known that I was the archaeologist for the expedition. After +all, I signed the correspondence we had with Okola, and he was Okola's +assistant." + +"But why would he want to kill you?" Rick asked. + +"For religious reasons. Nangolat is a religious fanatic. I saw that +quite clearly during the time I was his captive. He does not want the +artifacts dug up--or he didn't. Remember the legend? If they're dug up, +drought and earthquakes will follow. By killing me aboard ship, the +expedition would never take place. That must have been how he reasoned." + +Rick was beginning to see light. "Angel, was Nangolat supposed to be a +Christian?" + +Angel shook his head. "No. He was a pagan. Once he went to church with +me, but that was only to see how Christians worship. He worshiped the +Ifugao gods which were in the museum at the university." + +Rick commented, "I imagine his studies with Okola, and especially the +work he did tracking down the legends of the golden skull, made him even +more religious. I won't say superstitious." + +"You're right," Tony said approvingly. "This is not superstition. +Nangolat is as firmly convinced of the correctness of his religious +beliefs as any Christian martyr. I'm sure he considered the object of +our expedition as pure sacrilege." + +"I'm with you up to a point," Scotty remarked. "But why didn't he kill +the lot of us as soon as we landed? He could have gotten Rick and me the +night we met you for dinner. We walked in a lot of dark places, and we +weren't particularly on guard." + +"He tried," Tony reminded them. "We surprised him in my room at the +Manila Hotel. Probably he was examining my effects to see if I had maps +or charts. Then he waited in the walled city and tried to pick you two +off with rifle fire." + +Chahda spoke up. "Not so easy to find chances to kill, even in city like +Manila. With gang, yes. Alone, no." + +"He's right," Tony agreed. "Then, somewhere along the line, Nangolat had +a change of heart. I don't know why. Perhaps his research told him that +the drought and earthquakes would follow the digging up of the golden +skull only if it should be done by unbelievers like us. Perhaps if the +faithful do the uncovering, the Ifugao gods will smile. I don't know. +But Nangolat decided he wanted the expedition to help _him_ find the +artifacts." + +"The old competitive spirit got him," Scotty murmured. "Wanted his side +to win." + +"Maybe," Tony said with a grin. "Anyway, he got away with the earth +scanner; he had it when Nast turned me over to him. Of course he +couldn't use it. So he must have planned to capture one or all of us. He +could have waited until the expedition got here, but things would then +be complicated by our hiring diggers and camp helpers, which he knew we +intended to do. Also, we intended to contact the road commissioner at +Bontoc, a man who represents law and order--such as it is. So Nangolat, +apparently, decided to stake everything on capturing us, forcing us to +find the cache, then removing our heads. By the time the law got around +to looking for us, the artifacts would be well hidden by the Ifugaos, +and so would our bodies. Our skulls would be aging gracefully in some +hidden place. And no Ifugao would know a single thing about it when +questioned. It was a good scheme." + +"Except for one thing," Rick corrected. "The terraces cover miles. We +could spend weeks searching." + +"There's one bit of evidence you don't have, boys. Remember that there +is a major clue to the whereabouts of the cache? A dragon. Well, +Nangolat knows--and has always known without knowing its significance +until now--where the dragon is located." + +Tony smiled at the interested faces around him. "And that's not all. I +know where it is, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +Sign of the Dragon + + +The convoy formed at dawn. One jeep was left with Pilipil, who had +learned to drive while working for the United States Air Force. The +other jeep, with Tony, Chahda, and Rick, went ahead as advance guard. +The truck, with Scotty, Angel, Balaban, and Dog Meat, carried the +equipment. + +The earth scanner had been checked. It worked fine. Picks and shovels +were ready, as were Tony's cleaning brushes, knives, and other tools. +When electronic science had located the treasure, old-fashioned digging +methods would have to unearth it. + +Rifles, carbines, and the single shotgun were loaded and ready. Hunting +knives hung at belts. + +Rick, driving the lead jeep, followed the twisting road up into the +clouds that always seemed to hover at the top of the divide. It was +bitter cold, but they were warmly dressed in clothing from their camp +supplies. They kept a sharp lookout for Ifugao guards, but the road was +deserted. + +As the road descended into the Ifugao country, Tony kept watching for +the first rice terrace. Soon he motioned to Rick. "Around this turn, I +think. Slow." + +Rick rounded the turn and emerged on a natural terrace overlooking +Banaue Valley. The sun, just risen, was a golden ball veiled by mist. It +gave the valley a warm, subdued light that reflected from the green +rice, and from the sheen of water in some terraces. + +It was a scene of indescribable beauty. For long moments the occupants +of truck and jeep just looked and said nothing. Then Dog Meat and +Balaban slipped from the truck and went down the road to take up guard +positions. + +Rick and Tony went to the truck and took the earth scanner from Scotty. +They carried it to the edge of the natural terrace and set it up. The +others joined them, weapons in hand. + +Chahda watched with special interest as the covers were taken from the +portable boxes. He had never seen the earth scanner in operation. + +"Plenty magic, I bet. You scientists make poor native boy scared with +this machine." + +Rick snorted. "Come on and be useful, poor native boy. Connect these +leads for me. They go into the Fahnestock clips on those A batteries." + +Chahda made the connection with the ease of one who has worked with +electronic apparatus before, but he kept muttering about how the poor +native boy was "plenty snowed" by wonderful scientists. Rick just +grinned and went ahead with connecting up the scanner. Tony didn't quite +know what to make of Chahda at first, but soon the Hindu boy's dexterity +convinced him that Chahda was pulling his leg. + +Scotty threatened Chahda with the butt end of his rifle. "I'd offer you +to the Ifugaos, if I didn't know they can't use empty heads." + +"You let that poor native boy alone," Rick said with false concern. He +lifted the probe from its foam rubber-lined receptacle and plugged its +cord into the control panel. The earth scanner was ready to operate. + +Its appearance was not unusual. There was a power pack, consisting of +batteries and a dynamotor, an amplifier, and a control panel. In the +control panel was an oscilloscope. The probe looked like an aluminum +pipe but was really a special tube built like a segment of coaxial +cable. The sensing unit was in an inner core, surrounded by an +atmosphere of pressurized helium. At the tip of the probe was the +sensing element which looked very much like the Geiger tube of a +radiation detector surrounded by a helical coil. + +"Come on, you poor native, and I'll show you how it works," Rick +invited. + +"You not expect to find stuff here. You just testing?" Chahda asked. + +"We want to get a standard pattern," Rick said. He pointed to the +valley. "The terrace soil and rocks should be no different than those +right here. So we'll get the typical response of these, and when we get +to our location we won't have to take time--which could be important if +we have Ifugao spear throwers shooting at us." + +"What's typical response?" Chahda asked. + +Rick showed him the helical coil at the end of the probe. "This coil is +an antenna. It's shooting out electro-magnetic waves of very high +frequency. When those waves hit anything, some are reflected. The +reflected waves are picked up by the tube inside the coil. You with me?" + +"Way ahead of you," Chahda said. "Not all things reflect these waves the +same, huh? Maybe the more dense, the better reflect. So loose earth not +reflect too good, rocks little better, metal very good, and stuff like +crystals best of all." + +"Poor native boy," Tony said chidingly. "You knew how it worked all +along." + +Rick shook his head. "He's never seen it before, Tony. It's just that +he's pretty quick on the uptake for a poor native boy." + +Chahda grinned. "Okay, chums, I'll drop the gag. Go ahead, Rick, I not +know everything yet. Why you testing here?" + +"The minerals that make up the rocks and soil here will show a pattern. +We'll mark the pattern on this plastic screen." Rick indicated a circle +of white plastic, scaled like the face of the oscilloscope. "Then, when +we go hunting, we'll be looking for deviations from the pattern. For +instance, there probably is no metal in the ground here. We're looking +for metal. When we find it, the blip on the scope will stand out very +plainly. Got it?" + +"Think so. Sounds easy. Let's see it work." + +Rick held the tip of the probe at waist level. Tony adjusted the +controls until the scope flickered bright green. A vertical line on the +face of the scope was a much lighter green, nearly white. Then, as Tony +switched the activation circuit, the vertical line formed a pattern that +varied in width from top to bottom. Here and there a blip, a clear +horizontal line, thrust out both ways from the center. + +The present pattern was not unlike that of a stylized Christmas tree, +with broad blips representing branches at the base, and increasingly +narrower ones representing the branches at the top. Rick quickly +sketched the pattern on the plastic circle. + +"Now watch," he said, and put his rifle on the ground under the probe. + +The Christmas tree pattern developed a new element that ruined the +design. It was a strong blip, thrusting out from center, about halfway +up the pattern. + +"Steel," Rick said. "Other metals with good reflection qualities would +show blips slightly higher or lower on the scale." + +"Some gadget," Chahda said admiringly. "What else you need know?" + +"That's all." Tony was already closing the cover to the control panel. +"We're ready to move. Rick, suppose we just set this stuff in the back +of the jeep instead of disconnecting it? Chahda could carry the probe." + +"Good idea. Then it will be ready for use." + +Scotty and Angel had been watching for signs of life in the valley +below. At Rick's hail they joined the group. + +"Last instructions," Tony said. "We will try to persuade Nangolat that +our intentions are good, that we do not want to violate taboos, and that +we will do everything in our power to persuade the authorities that the +artifacts should remain in the Ifugao country." + +"If Nangolat is not there," Angel added, "I will explain to the Ifugaos +that we are friends, that we are helping them to find sacred things that +were lost many years ago." + +"And if none of this works," Scotty picked up, "we will make one sweep +with the scanner, looking for the cache, while holding off the Ifugaos. +If they "attack", that is. If one sweep turns up nothing, we will then +beat a retreat." + +"We'll have to worry about spears," Tony said, "but the Ifugao spear is +primarily a stabbing weapon, and they are not the marksmen that the Zulu +is with an assagai. The risk will not be very great. I need not warn you +to keep under cover as much as possible. And to shoot low if we must +shoot. A leg wound will put a man out of action just as effectively as a +hole in the head, at least when his only weapon is a spear. We don't +want bloodshed. We archaeologists are a peaceful lot." + +"Let's go," Scotty said. He climbed into the truck. "Let's make peace +with the Ifugaos." + +"Put your truck into four-wheel drive," Rick called. He started the +jeep, then shifted into his own four-wheel drive. Then, with a toot of +the horn, he started off. A few yards down the road Balaban and Dog Meat +were waiting. Scotty slowed to let them climb aboard. Then the +two-vehicle caravan speeded up to the maximum the mountain road allowed. + +Tony leaned forward, watching intently for the turn-off. Rick kept the +jeep in second as he led the winding way down the mountainside toward +the bottom of the valley. The road was dirt and badly rutted. If they +should meet another car, one would have to back up until a turn-around +was reached. But it was unlikely that another car would be out at this +time of morning. Chances were that a car passed this way only once in a +great while. + +They were among the rice terraces now. No matter which way Rick looked, +his eyes met terraces. Some were no bigger than table tops, perhaps +filling a tiny space between bigger terraces. Some retaining walls were +only a foot high, while the next step up or down the mountain might be a +twenty-foot wall. Irregular giant steps, green with growing rice. Here +and there was one with no rice, showing a film of water. + +Tony called, "Easy. We turn just a short distance ahead." In another +quarter mile he pointed. "Take that road." + +It was little more than a path that wound a corkscrew way among the +terraces, hugging the mountain wall. This was the way Nangolat had +brought Tony, not even bothering to blindfold him. Rick held the wheel +tightly to keep it from jerking out of his hands on impact with a rock. +Then, ahead, the road suddenly leveled. Rick recognized the scene. He +had been here before, last night, during the hours of darkness. + +The mist had not yet cleared, and the limits on his vision made the +scene seem more like it had last night. He knew that to the left, three +terraces down, was the village. Now he could see that to the right of +the road was a small meadow or very large terrace. He couldn't tell +which. The meadow ran perhaps a hundred and fifty feet from the road to +the base of a retaining wall. It was a very high wall, perhaps as much +as sixty feet. Rick hadn't seen another nearly so high. + +"Turn right," Tony said. "Go into the meadow." + +Rick dropped the jeep back into low gear and swung the wheel. The jeep +climbed over a single row of rocks and moved easily across the meadow. +Rick thought the row of rocks probably constituted a retaining wall, so +that made it a terrace instead of a meadow. Anyway, it was firm under +the tires. + +Behind the jeep, Scotty look the truck over the row of stones as easily +as he would have negotiated a high curbing at home. He followed Rick +across the meadow. + +Rick could see now that in the base of the high retaining wall was a +considerable recess. He asked, with mounting excitement, "Is the dragon +there?" + +Tony nodded. "Let's turn around and back into the recess as far as +possible. We want to be facing out, in case we have to leave in a +hurry." + +Rick did so, then directed Scotty. Not until the vehicles were in place +did they run into the recess and look. + +There on a pedestal, a smaller edition of the one Rick had first seen at +Alta Yuan, was the dragon! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Under the Dragon's Claws + + +The Spindrift group jumped into action. Rick, Tony, and Chahda carried +the earth scanner into the recess and set it up. Scotty consulted with +Angel, and at a word from the Filipino, Balaban the Igorot climbed the +wall to the terrace above their heads where he sprawled among the rice +with rifle ready. + +Angel moved to the left about fifty feet, while Scotty moved the same +distance to the right. Dog Meat ran down the meadow to the road, crossed +the terrace, and took up a watch on the village. + +"Work fast," Tony said. "They must know we're here. If they didn't see +us, they at least heard the motors." + +Rick was already at work. He plugged in the probe, checked the controls, +then turned them over to Tony. The scientist set the controls and turned +on the activation switch. + +Rick moved the probe in a long sweep, starting in front of the dragon, +while Tony and Chahda watched the scope. + +"Standard pattern," Tony reported. "Keep it moving ... no change ... no +change...." + +Rick stepped sideways and moved the probe through a slightly different +arc. "No change...." + +Again Rick took a step and swung the probe. He kept moving until the +probe had nearly covered the ground in front of the dragon, then he took +a position next to the bronze statue and covered the ground directly +under its nose. + +"Wait!" There was excitement in Tony's voice. "You're on something!" + +"Metal?" Rick asked quickly. + +"No. It's not a metal response. Some kind of stone, but not the usual +type found around here." + +Tony had a pad out and was making a sketch of the recess, marking the +position of the dragon. Then, while Rick moved the probe through a new +arc, his pencil shaded in the area where the odd response showed on the +scope. + +Rick repeated the scanning process to one side of the dragon, and again +the response was normal until he got close. He changed sides, and the +result was the same. Then he went to the rear of the dragon, expecting a +changed response there. But the results were identical. At last he gave +up, feeling a bit let down, and joined Tony and Chahda. They were +examining Tony's sketch. + +"Plenty clear to me," Chahda said. "Right under old man dragon is round +hole. See?" + +Chahda was right. The changed responses, when charted on Tony's sketch, +showed a circle about six feet in diameter with its center directly +under the dragon. + +"But no metal," Tony said. "That's odd." + +Rick frowned. "It can't be an underground base for the dragon," he said. +"A base would be close to the surface. This response seems to start +about two feet under." + +He stared out across the meadow and noted that Dog Meat was trotting +toward them, but he paid no attention because his mind was working on +the problem. + +"It could be a crypt of some kind," he said. He went to the truck and +got a shovel. "I have an idea." He went to work. + +Dog Meat arrived and chattered excitedly. Angel came running, listened, +and translated. + +"The village is up in arms. Nangolat is making a speech and the young +men are getting ready to make war." + +Rick dug, working on a shaft under the dragon's pedestal. The earth was +packed hard and he had to get a pick. Tony relieved him, and they took +turns until the shaft slanted in to what they estimated was a point +directly under the center of the pedestal. + +"Now," Rick said, and took the probe. He put it into the shaft and +watched expectantly while Tony adjusted the controls. Suddenly the scope +flickered, breaking up the Christmas tree pattern. There were at least +three different responses, two of them definitely in the metals range. + +"This is it!" Tony yelled. "It has to be! Rick, that was an inspiration. +The cache is right under the dragon!" + +There was another yell, from outside the recess. It was Balaban, on the +terrace above. "They come!" + +For the moment the find was forgotten. The Spindrift party stood between +the truck and jeep watching as nearly a hundred Ifugao warriors walked +with menacing silence to the edge of the meadow and stopped. + +Nangolat, naked except for a breechcloth, stepped from the ranks of +Ifugao warriors. He held a spear a foot taller than he, a vicious weapon +with a triangular point and flared base. + +The Ifugao walked ceremoniously across the meadow to a point twenty +yards in front of the recess. "You're trapped," he said. His voice +trembled with hatred. "You can't get away from us now. Come out and +throw down your weapons." + +Tony stepped forward, rifle held carelessly under his arm. He stopped +ten paces in front of the Ifugao. + +"We and you want the same thing," he said. "The artifacts." + +Nangolat thrust the metal-shod base of his spear into the earth. "We +want the same thing, but for different reasons. I want to preserve the +sacred objects of my people. You want to desecrate them." + +"That's not true," Tony replied. "When we touch them it will be with +reverence, with respect for the gods of Banaue. Then, when we have +collected them all, we will buy many pigs for a great feast of +thanksgiving for all the people of Ifugao. The sacred objects will be +used by your priests for ceremonies. Then you, Nangolat, will go with us +when we carry them to Manila. In Manila we will measure them and +photograph them and make sketches. These methods are familiar to you." + +Tony paused, searching Nangolat's face for some sign of a change in his +attitude. "When we are done, we will ask to see the president of the +Philippines. We will petition him to assist in the building of a +temple-museum on this very spot. My scientific foundation will give the +first donation for this purpose. Dr. Okola will help. Then, I hope, the +sacred objects can come back to Ifugao to stay forever, in a place where +all Ifugaos may see them." + +Tony held out his hand, palm upward. "Is that desecration?" + +Nangolat leaned forward, half bowing in his excitement. "The artifacts +must not leave Ifugao!" + +"You know Dr. Okola," Tony replied. "Would he insist that they go to +Manila? I would not. I could take photographs and measurements right +here. The objects need not leave here, so far as I am concerned. That +would be between you and the Filipino authorities." + +Nangolat was obviously impressed. "Wait," he commanded. "I must talk +with the priests." + +He turned on his heel and walked back to the waiting Ifugao warriors. +Several men detached themselves from the group and followed as he led +the way across the terrace toward the village. + +Rick breathed freely for the first time. "Tony, I think he's going for +it!" + +"I certainly hope so," the scientist said with relief. "But regardless +of how the decision goes, the artifacts must be collected. Let's get +some work done." + +How to get the dragon away from the underground crypt was solved with +the truck winch. The cable was passed around the pedestal and the whole +business hauled forward. Then Rick, Scotty, Angel, and Chahda began to +dig while Tony examined each inch of progress for signs that the crypt +was being reached. + +A whistle came from outside. Dog Meat beckoned. The party stopped +digging and hurried out in time to see a station wagon come to a halt on +the road above the village. Six men got out and were met by an elderly +Ifugao. But before they were ushered to the village they took time to +stare at the Spindrift expedition. + +The Spindrift group stared back with a combination of fear, +disappointment, and disgust. Four of the men were strangers. One was an +American--James Nast. The sixth was the Assistant Secretary of the +Interior! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Flying Spears + + +"Just like the old saying," Rick observed. "Birds of a feather flock +together. A crooked Filipino, a crooked American, and a crazy Ifugao are +now in conference. And what is the conference about?" + +"They talk about who wins next World Series," Chahda suggested brightly. + +Scotty scoffed at the idea. "They aren't sports lovers, Chahda. They are +gentlemen of culture. I think the conference is about motion pictures. +My idea is that Lazada and Nast are visiting Nangolat in order to get an +Ifugao opinion on whether the hero should be allowed to kiss his horse +in western pictures." + +Tony Briotti leaned on his shovel. "I can't see how you can be so wrong +when the evidence is so clear. Isn't Lazada the Assistant Secretary of +the Interior? Isn't this the Interior? I think the Ifugao terraces are +about to be converted to a national park, under the Department of the +Interior. The Assistant Secretary is here to discuss the hot-dog +concession with a local bigwig. Of course he has his American hot-dog +expert with him. It's as simple as that." + +Scotty checked his rifle carefully, sighting down the barrel to make +sure it was mirror clean. "They could also be talking about building a +new swimming pool for Ifugao boys and girls, but somehow I doubt it. +What say we not worry about what they're saying to each other, and worry +instead about digging?" + +"Right as usual," Tony said. "Let's keep at it, and perhaps we'll come +up with something worth talking about." + +They had made a good start. Now, working two by two, they excavated +until the shovels rang from stone. Scraping disclosed a flat stone that +probably was a lid of some kind. They resumed digging until the stone +was completely exposed, then tried to lift it. + +"Weighs a ton," Rick grunted. "Did it move at all?" + +"Not that I could see," Tony said. "Let's dig down around the edges more +and see if the stone is anchored." + +Further digging showed that the stone was not anchored. It probably had +been set in some kind of primitive mortar which would have to be broken +before the stone could be lifted. A crowbar from the truck supplied +leverage and in a moment the stone was free. Willing hands found holds, +lifted it free, and slid it to the back of the recess. Where the stone +had been there now yawned a circular opening about the size of a +manhole. + +Tony Briotti was beside himself with excitement. He ran to the truck, +rummaged in the supplies, and produced a flashlight. Then he ran back to +the hole and directed the beam downward. + +The boys crowded around to look. Rick exclaimed in disappointment. The +hole was about eight feet deep and about four feet in diameter. The +walls were coated with green slime and on the bottom there was a mixed +coating of mud and slime and nothing else. + +"False alarm," he said sadly. + +Tony paid no attention. He went to the truck again, and from his own +crate of supplies he produced rope and two galvanized steel buckets. He +also found boots and rubber gloves, a small hand shovel, and an ordinary +garden hand tool with three prongs. These tools he thrust into his belt. + +"I'm going down," he announced. + +Rick realized that Tony was not taking for granted the apparent +emptiness of the hole. He realized, too, that Tony knew much more about +such caches than he. "Okay," he said. "Angel, keep a watch. We don't +want to get caught by surprise while Tony is digging." + +"I've been watching," Angel said. "And we're also being watched by +Ifugaos, on the terraces above the village." + +Chahda looked into the hole doubtfully. "How you get in and out, Tony? +No ladder." + +"The rope," Tony said. "You'll have to lower me, or hold the rope so I +can climb down." + +"We'll lower you," Scotty said. He took the rope and made a loop for +Tony's foot, then directed the archaeologist to sit on the edge of the +hole. Tony did so, putting his foot through the loop. Then Rick, Scotty, +and Chahda payed out rope while the scientist let himself slide from the +edge into the hole. In a moment the rope went slack. He was on the +bottom. + +Rick watched while Tony drove his hunting knife into the wall of the +hole and hung his flashlight on it, the beam shooting downward. Then +Tony took his shovel from his belt and probed the soft earth carefully. +It was so soft that his boots sank in up to the ankles. + +Presently Tony called, "Something here. Get a bucket." He worked with +the shovel and unearthed a small, mud-covered object, then another, then +a whole series of them. + +Scotty tied a bucket to the rope and lowered it. Tony put the muddy +collection in it and Scotty drew it up. + +"Send the rope back for me," Tony called. + +The three boys helped to pull him up. He immediately sat down on the +ground with the bucket between his legs and started to clean his +findings. + +"Rick," he requested, "get me the bag of cloths and brushes from my +case, please?" + +Rick did so. Tony removed most of the mud by wiping it off with his +gloves. Then brushes and cloths completed the job. He held up a human +jawbone, inlaid with gold. His eyes sparkled. "Typical, except for the +gold. The human jawbone is a common Ifugao relic. In fact, they suspend +their musical instruments from human jawbones." He put it down carefully +and started to work on the next object. It turned out to be a pipe, +again typical Ifugao work except for the fact that it was of gold. + +Rick examined it. He had seen pipes something like it before, but made +of clay. "I thought tobacco was an American product," he observed. "How +come these primitive Asiatics had it?" + +"Asia used tobacco long before the Indians introduced it to Europeans," +Tony replied. "But it's curious that the pipe forms should be so +similar. That pipe was made by a process we now use in America for very +delicate castings. It is called the 'lost wax' process." + +"Funny name," Chahda said, interested. + +"Yes, until you know about the process. The Ifugao makes the pipe he +wants out of wax, then coats it with clay, leaving a hole in the clay. +Then he puts the clay in the fire. The clay hardens, but the wax melts +and runs out. The Ifugao, then, has a mold exactly like the pipe he made +of wax. He melts the metal he chooses--gold, in this case--and pours it +into the clay mold. When the metal cools, he breaks off the mold, and +there is his pipe." + +"Lost wax," Scotty said. "You're right. It fits." + +At that moment Angel Manotok came into the recess. "I've been listening. +Don't think I'm presuming, please, but could we work faster? Perhaps +talk about it later?" + +Angel was right, of course. Tony said, "I shouldn't have taken the time +to clean those things. We'll collect them mud and all." He went back +into the hole and worked rapidly, filling the buckets as fast as the +boys could haul them up. + +Rick thought that the crypt probably was dry when the objects were first +placed in it. But the water used to irrigate the rice terraces had +seeped through between the carefully selected stones that lined the pit, +bringing fine particles of dirt and gradually building up a reservoir of +mud in the bottom. Most of the water seeped in and seeped out again, but +the particles of soil remained. + +Tony suddenly gave a cry. "I think I have it!" He braced an object on +his knee and wiped it. "It is! And by its weight, it's thick-walled but +hollow! What a find! Boys, this is wonderful! Tremendous!" + +The scientist tried to place the muddy object in a bucket, but it was +too large to fit. He called, "Can one of you lean away in? I'll hold it +up as high as I can." + +Tony's excavations had taken him down another two feet, but with Chahda +and Scotty holding onto his legs, Rick was able to reach in and take the +object from Tony's outstretched hands. It was bulky, slightly larger +than a human head, and it was heavy--as heavy as lead, or gold! + +Scotty and Chahda pulled Rick out of the pit, then they lowered the rope +for Tony. In a moment he was working on the object, wiping and brushing. +There was a yellow gleam to it now, and the shape was becoming more and +more skull-like as the mud was removed. Tony worked rapidly, and in a +few moments he held it up for them to see. It was a skull, finely +executed of heavy sheet gold, and the workmanship bore the unmistakable +stamp of Alta Yuan. + +"We've succeeded," Tony said, his voice hushed. "Beyond my wildest +expectations!" + +And in that moment Dog Meat and Angel called simultaneously. + +The Ifugao warriors were advancing across the field in ominous silence, +spears ready. Nast and Lazada were nowhere in sight, but at the head of +the warriors was Nangolat! + +Hastily the golden artifacts were put out of sight in the recess and +Tony walked to meet the oncoming Ifugaos. + +Scotty pulled the retractor of his rifle and a cartridge rammed into the +firing chamber. He held the rifle casually, but ready for instant +action. + +Nangolat came closer, and his face was distorted with emotion. He held +the spear in his fist, ready for stabbing or throwing. When he spoke, +his voice, usually moderate, was nearly a scream. + +"I almost believed you," he sobbed. "But now I know the truth! You are +here to desecrate our temples and to rob us of the precious relics of my +people." + +Then the Ifugao saw that the dragon had been moved. He bared his teeth +with fury and his eyes were glazed, black with emotion. He was beyond +reason. + +"Die!" he screamed. "Die!" + +His hand flashed back for the throw. Scotty's rifle spoke sharply and +the heavy slug caught the blade of Nangolat's spear. The Ifugao was +whirled around bodily. He fell as the spear was wrenched from him and +hurled a dozen yards away. + +It was the signal. The Ifugao warriors rushed, launching spears as they +came. Rick pulled Tony back to the shelter of the truck. Angel, Scotty, +and Chahda were calmly firing at the oncoming wave, shooting low with +deadly accuracy. From the terrace above, Balaban was firing down with +good effect, while Dog Meat whammed away with the shotgun. + +Spears bounced off the truck, the jeep, and the dragon. Now and then one +hung quivering in the wall of the recess, but the Spindrift group had +good shielding and there were no casualties. + +The attackers were wavering now. A priest with a knot of chicken +feathers in his hair leaped forward, holding a skull high. Rick guessed +it was an important symbol of some kind, because he saw the warriors +rally. He sighted in and his shot blasted the skull into fragments. The +wave broke and retreated. + +Tony made a quick examination to be sure there were no casualties. Out +on the meadow several wounded Ifugaos, all of them with leg wounds, were +being helped to safety. + +"We can thank Nast and Lazada for this," Tony said bitterly. "Do you +realize that we are in a very bad position?" + +The Ifugao warriors were reforming. Nangolat, recovered from the numbing +shock of Scotty's shot, stormed among them, getting them ready for +another assault. But Nangolat was no longer waving a spear. He was now +armed with a rifle. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +Make or Break + + +"We can stand off their assaults," Tony said. "We can't stand sniping. +Not for long, at any rate." + +Scotty grinned. "Neither can Nangolat. Let's see if I can fix his +wagon." + +They watched as Scotty wet his finger, tested for wind direction, then +set the sights on his rifle. On the other side of the road Nangolat was +exhorting his troops like a good general, waving his rifle to emphasize +his words. + +Scotty took a classic sharpshooter's position, relaxed but braced. Rick +saw him inhale and hold it. The rifle muzzle moved slowly, following +Nangolat's movements. Then, suddenly, the rifle spoke. + +Nangolat was thrown into the midst of his warriors, while his rifle, its +stock shattered, flailed into the ranks and knocked two warriors down. +And then Nangolat went berserk. He snatched a spear from one of his men, +turned, and ran toward the defenders, screaming. A priest barked an +order and two warriors dashed forward, caught Nangolat, and hauled him +back by force. + +"The old priest had sense enough to know Nangolat wouldn't make it," +Angel said. + +"All right," Tony said crisply. "We're trapped in here. It's not a bad +place to be trapped for a while. They can't get at us without crossing +open spaces, and there is enough overhang to the wall to prevent them +from dropping rocks on our heads. Also, Balaban is up there to warn us +if they try anything from that direction. But we can't stay here +forever. We need help. How do we get it?" + +"It has to be the constabulary at Baguio," Rick said. "There isn't any +other help nearby. If worst comes to worst, I suppose we could call the +American ambassador and try to get him to send Air Force troops from +Clark Field." + +"By the time diplomatic protocol and military red tape got untangled +we'd be old men," Scotty objected. "If we lived to be old men. Also, you +overlooked one little thing. How do we get a message to them?" + +"Wait until night and one of us sneak out." + +Tony looked at his watch. "We won't last until night," he said +succinctly. "It's still early morning." + +Rick examined the terrain between the cave and the road, noting where +the station wagon Lazada had brought was parked. + +"I'm going," he said. "Let history record that Rick Brant carried a +message to...." + +"Not Garcia," Chahda said. "That was in Cuba, says my Worrold Alminack. +Carry message to cops." + +"How?" Scotty demanded. + +"You create a diversion. I'll get in the jeep and make a run for it." + +Scotty considered. "It could work. But I'll do it." + +"My idea," Rick said firmly. "I'll do it." + +Tony was deep in thought. After all, the safety of the expedition was +his responsibility. "I got us into this," he said. "Bad judgment is no +excuse. I was certain it would work out." + +"Would have, if Lazada had stayed home," Chahda said. "I go with Rick. +He drive, I shoot. Okay?" + +"There doesn't seem to be any alternative," Tony agreed. "Staying or +going makes little difference, so far as danger is concerned. All right, +Rick. We can create a diversion when they start to charge next time. If +we start the truck and roll it toward the village, I'm sure we can +create a little excitement." + +"That's smart," Scotty approved. "The truck would go right on across the +road, across the terrace, and tumble down. It wouldn't hit the village, +though. It would land on the next terrace." + +"I doubt that they'd think of that in the excitement," Tony commented. +"But take away the jeep and truck and you take away our good cover from +spears. We need an earthwork fort, quickly. All hands turn to." + +There were tools enough. While the Ifugao warriors argued among +themselves, and Nangolat, somewhat calmed down, tried to work them up to +a new pitch of excitement, the Spindrift group dug. Within a few minutes +there was a very respectable earthen berm across the front of the +recess. The riflemen could lie behind it and be reasonably protected +from spears. + +They were just in time, too. The Ifugaos were steadying down and +Nangolat had a spear in his hand once more. + +"I'll start the truck," Scotty said quickly. "Head for them, then jump +out, leaving it in first. Don't start the jeep until I'm moving. We +should be able to hold them off until you return in the Sky Wagon." + +Rick suddenly realized that the steel poles for the pickup cable were +with the gear on the truck. He reminded Scotty of the fact. "I'll snatch +Tony's loot right out of your hands," he said. "That will take some of +the heart out of them." + +"Or make them madder," Scotty added. They hurried to unload the truck. +Chahda checked his rifle. + +"Make or break," Rick said. "If I make it, fine. If not, that breaks our +chances down to zero. But I'll make it." + +Scotty ran for the truck cab, climbed in, and started the engine. The +Ifugaos stopped their yelling to look. For a moment they milled around, +uncertain, then Scotty threw the truck into gear and started directly +for them. + +Rick and Chahda jumped into the jeep. Rick started the engine and pulled +out the choke slightly to avoid a possible stall. Scotty leaped from the +truck, leaving the unmanned vehicle to bounce across the meadow directly +toward the ranks of the Ifugaos! They hesitated, then scattered--and +Rick stepped on the gas. + +He angled the jeep across the meadow, coaxing maximum speed out of it, +paying no attention to ruts or bumps. From beside him came the sharp +crack of Chahda's rifle. Once a spear passed overhead and dug into the +rice beyond. + +Then Rick slowed for the stone blocks at the edge of the meadow and let +the jeep climb over them to the road. A spear clanged off the rear and +another ripped the rear-seat cushion. Chahda fired one shot after +another, muttering to himself in Hindi. + +They were on the road! Rick gave the jeep all it would take. In his +rear-view mirror he caught a glimpse of Ifugaos pursuing him, of the +truck stopped at the edge of the meadow, then they were around the curve +of a terrace wall, free. + +Rick kept the accelerator to the floor except on the worst curves. They +climbed out of the valley, crossed the ridge, and emerged at their camp. +Pilipil was waiting. They slowed long enough to yell instructions to +strike the tents and cooking gear, and load them in the jeep and be +ready to leave on a moment's notice, then they drove down the mountain +at breakneck speed, with Chahda holding on for dear life. Fortunately, +they had to pass through only one gate, and the gatekeeper waved them +right through. They passed Igorot villages, narrowly missing chickens +and pigs, then bounced across a river bed and into Bontoc. + +The trip had taken one hour. The boys pulled up in front of the road +commissioner's office and ran in. De los Santos met them. "You are +excited!" he exclaimed. "Is something wrong?" + +"Very wrong," Rick replied. "We must use your phone. How do I get +Baguio?" + +"I will get it for you. Who do you want?" + +"The constabulary!" + +Santos looked startled, but he cranked the phone several times, talked +in Ilokano, and finally handed the phone to Rick. + +A voice at the other end said, "Constabulary detachment. Corporal +Alvarez." + +Rick said quickly, "We need help at Banaue. A party of Americans are +trapped by Ifugaos. Unless they get help quickly, they'll all be +killed!" + +Corporal Alvarez replied, "There must be a mistake. The Ifugaos are +peaceful." + +"Not any more," Rick yelled. "I just came from there. They're throwing +spears. They mean business!" + +Suddenly the corporal was unable to understand. Rick yelled, begged, and +threatened, to no avail. At last he hung up, defeated. "Something's +fishy," he said. "Very fishy. The corporal knew what I meant, I'm sure. +He treated it as a joke. Chahda, Lazada is behind this!" + +Santos coughed. Rick whirled on him. "What do you know about it?" + +"Nothing, I assure you." + +The man was lying. Rick was sure of it. He grabbed him by the lapels and +said, "Talk. Talk! My friends may lose their lives unless we can do +something." + +Chahda took a hunting knife from his belt and put the point against +Santos' throat. "Talk," he said gently. "You have two seconds." He +pushed a little. + +Santos' light-brown complexion turned dirty gray. "All right," he +gasped. "I am a good man, but Lazada is my boss. I do not like what he +has done. Last night he stayed here, and I heard him talk to the +American, Nast. They laughed about how they had told the constabulary +that a group of crazy Americans were up here and would be calling them +with a practical joke, to which they should not pay attention. They told +the constabulary this both in Baguio and Manila." + +"And they believed him, because he is Assistant Secretary of the +Interior," Rick said bitterly. "Now what? We'll never convince them. He +couldn't order them not to help, so he planted a story that would do the +same thing. The only thing I can do now is call the American ambassador +and see if he can go through diplomatic channels to get help." + +"Take too much time," Chahda said. "It will be too late." + +Santos muttered in the native dialect. + +"What was that?" Rick asked sharply. + +"Filipino saying. 'What good is hay to a dead horse.'" + +"Wait!" Rick had a quick mental image of the Filipino officer who had +first spoken the phrase. Colonel Felix Rojas. He would believe the +story. Hadn't he warned them? + +"Get me Manila," Rick said. "Quickly. Constabulary Headquarters!" + +It took time. It seemed like an hour, but was only fifteen minutes. And +Colonel Felix Rojas was on the wire. + +Rick talked fast, telling the colonel the whole story, including +Chahda's espionage activities. When he had finished, Rojas said crisply, +"No time to get troops there. It will take planes. I will send a fighter +plane first. Then will come a platoon of paratroopers, if I can get the +Army to move fast enough. But it will be two hours before the troopers +can get there, even with the best speed possible. The fighter will be +there in an hour. Tell your friends to hold out. Return to Manila as +soon as your party is safe. See no one, talk to no one until you see +me." + +The colonel rang off. + +"An hour," Rick said. "And an hour after that before the paratroopers +arrive. Can they hold out?" + +"They must," Chahda said flatly. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +The Sky Wagon + + +The Sky Wagon climbed out of the valley at Bontoc and Rick set a course +for Banaue. He took his pad and wrote a note to his friends, telling +them of his conversation with Colonel Rojas and of the trick Lazada had +pulled. He wrapped the note around a wrench and tied it with a piece of +string. + +Behind him, Chahda was busy with the bags for the cable pickup. He had +already removed the hatch. He tied the bags in two bundles and put them +in a handy place, to be tossed to the Spindrift group, then he got into +the seat next to Rick. + +"We pick up stuff, even though constabulary coming to rescue?" + +Rick nodded. "The plane can do nothing but scare the Ifugaos off. That +wouldn't prevent them from trying to capture the golden skull, anyway. +And even after troops land, that stuff is too valuable and too tempting. +Don't forget Lazada is on the scene. He could take over from the +troopers and they wouldn't dare say no." + +"True," Chahda agreed. "Better we get it. What you thinking about this +deal with Lazada? Why does Nangolat trust him? And what does he want?" + +"You told us the answers in Baguio," Rick reminded him. "Lazada told +Nangolat he couldn't refuse a permit--which we never got, by the +way--but that he would hinder us in other ways. Nangolat thinks Lazada +is his friend, all right. Lazada must have told him that our real plans +were to carry off the golden skull, probably to America. And why?" + +"Because Lazada wants Ifugaos to massacre us after we have located +skull," Chahda said. "That way, no witness. Dead men not telling stories +on witness stand. Then Lazada and Nast shoot poor Nangolat and take +stuff. Or something like that." + +"Nice people," Rick commented. + +The Sky Wagon was crossing the ridge. Soon they would be back on the +scene. Chahda got into the rear seat, ready to throw the message and +bags out through the access hatch. + +"Wait until I signal," Rick reminded him, and put the Sky Wagon into a +dive. He followed the road for a distance, then saw the truck and used +that for a landmark. As he flashed past the Spindrift refuge he saw that +the Ifugao warriors were in a semicircle around the edge of the meadow. +Apparently the siege was still on. Now to drop the message. He gauged +his distance and altitude. He wanted to be sure the message landed +within reach. + +"Get ready," he called, and circled until he was headed directly at the +recess. When a crash into the terrace wall seemed imminent he yelled, +"Now," and zoomed up into a screaming wing over. When he circled again, +Tony and Scotty were reading the message. + +The second time around, Chahda dropped the bags. Then there was a wait +while Scotty and Angel set up the pickup poles. + +The Ifugaos were obviously curious, nor were they the only ones. Rick +saw Lazada, Nast, and the rest of their party emerge from the village +and walk to a place on the terrace just beyond the meadow. They could +not be seen by anyone within the recess, but they could watch what was +going on in the meadow. + +Scotty knew that Rick could not make pickups while flying toward the +recess, so he was setting up the poles in such a way that Rick could fly +parallel to the terrace wall in which the recess was located. + +The pickup was very simple. Each bag was attached to a circle of cable +about eight feet in diameter. When ready for pickup, the bag was put on +the ground between the two poles and its cable was placed on angle irons +at the tops of the poles. The cable was not anchored. The only purpose +of the poles was to lift the cable far enough off the ground for +convenient pickup. + +Soon the first bag was in place and Scotty and Tony retired to the +recess to watch. Rick pushed a button on his control board and the cable +in the rear of the plane unwound. It was heavy, woven steel, terminating +in a weighted six-inch hook. + +Rick knew from many previous pickups the altitude at which to fly. He +circled for the run, dropped to the correct altitude, and glued the +plane's nose on the poles. The Sky Wagon passed over the poles, and the +hook on its cable caught the cable stretched between the poles. That +cable slid off the supports. The fast-moving plane took up the slack and +the bag of artifacts was jerked from the ground. A touch of the button +and the electric motor reeled it in. Chahda pulled the bag through the +hatch, unhooked it, and put it in the luggage compartment. They were +ready for another run. + +Tony had dug up enough stuff for seven bags. That was a lot of +artifacts. Each time Rick asked, "Was that one the skull?" And Chahda +would shake his head. + +The seventh bag was the skull. Rick was sure because of the +clasped-hands wave Scotty gave him, and because Tony did not retreat +into the recess. As Rick turned for his run he saw the sleek form of a +military plane slip past. Help had arrived. He sighed his relief and +held up his run to watch. The plane buzzed the Ifugaos and dropped a +container with streamers attached. An Ifugao--Rick thought it was +Nangolat--ran to get it. + +Rick could imagine what the note said. "Do not attempt further harm to +the Americans or your village will be bombed." Or some similar threat. +Nangolat might not like it, but he would obey. + +"Here we go," Rick said. He put the Sky Wagon on course and held it +steady. The poles passed from sight and there was a strong jerk on the +plane. That skull was heavy. + +"Bag tearing! Reel in!" Chahda yelled. + +Rick pushed the button and the winch whined, then suddenly screamed as +the load was released. Gone! The skull was gone! He swung in a vertical +bank just in time to see Nast lift the bag to his shoulder. Rick pounded +the seat beside him with helpless rage! + +The golden skull had fallen within reach of Nast and Lazada; it was in +the hands of the enemy. Rick swung in a tight circle and saw them run to +the station wagon and climb in. + +"They waste no time," Chahda said bitterly. "That Lazada, he move fast." + +"We'll never see that skull again," Rick muttered. "What rotten luck!" + +The Hindu boy's face tightened with determination. "We get that skull +back. Rick, fly to Bontoc. Open throttle wide and let us go!" + +"There's nothing we can do at Bontoc," Rick objected. "No one there, or +in Baguio either, would dare question Lazada." + +"Go to Bontoc," Chahda urged. "Leave this to me, Rick. Chahda will take +over." + +"But what can you do?" + +"I will know when the chance comes. You and Scotty will be ready. +Somehow, some place, we will get our chance--and the golden skull will +be ours again!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +The Nipa Hut + + +Colonel Felix Rojas paced the floor of Tony Briotti's room in the Manila +Hotel. He was in uniform now, but his visit, as he made quite clear, was +not official. At least not yet. + +Rick had just finished relating the story of how the golden skull had +fallen into the hands of Lazada. "Can't you just go to him and demand +the skull?" he asked. + +Rojas smiled sadly. "If only it were that simple. Suppose two Malays +arrived at your Department of Defense and claimed that your Assistant +Secretary of the Interior had stolen a valuable Indian necklace from an +archaeological expedition. What would happen?" + +Rick knew perfectly well what would happen. "They would get thrown +out--if they could get anyone to listen to them in the first place." + +"Exactly. The situation is not particularly different, except that I'm +sure we pay more attention to Americans here than you would to Malays in +your country. After all, you owned us for nearly half a century." + +"You warned us," Scotty said. "Why?" + +Rojas shrugged. "I may as well be frank. I knew of Nangolat's visits to +Lazada. In fact, I was present at one meeting. And I knew that our +esteemed Assistant Secretary was hungry for that buried gold. If I could +prove some of the things I know about that man, he would no longer hold +public office. He would be in jail. My hands were tied, officially, but +unofficially I tried to warn you. I couldn't come right out and denounce +Lazada." + +"Of course not," Tony agreed. "We're grateful that you were able to say +as much as you did." + +Rojas nodded. "Let us continue. After you flew back to Bontoc, what +happened?" + +Rick picked up his tale. "Pilipil was on the mountain, waiting. We +dropped down and signaled for him to go to Banaue in the jeep, then we +landed at Bontoc and picked up the other jeep. Chahda became an Igorot +again. He took the jeep and started for Baguio right away, while I +stayed behind in Bontoc." + +"I don't get the point of that," Rojas interrupted. + +"Chahda intended to follow Lazada or Nast, whoever had the skull. They +were coming over the mountain in a fast station wagon, and there were +only two routes they could take--north to the Kalinga country, or south +to Baguio. We didn't think they would go north. So Chahda started for +Baguio, knowing that they would probably catch up to him before the jeep +reached the Baguio gate. They were in so much of a hurry that they would +not suspect an Igorot who pulled to the side of the one-lane road to let +them pass him, which would make trailing them easier." + +"Smart," Rojas said. "Then your friends arrived at Bontoc late that +afternoon, and you flew them back to Baguio, leaving Angel Manotok to +bring the truck." + +"Yes. Of course we paid off Pilipil, Balaban, and the Igorots who had +guarded the plane. Dog Meat rode back with Angel." + +"And you haven't heard from your Hindu friend since?" + +"No." + +Rojas picked up his cap. "I would like very much to find Lazada with +that golden skull in his possession. It would be a major service to the +Philippines, because it would give the Secretary and the President +positive grounds for his dismissal. I ask a favor. If you hear from your +friend, will you let me know?" + +"First thing," Tony Briotti promised. + +When the constabulary colonel had gone, the three washed up and went +downstairs. Tony was restless and Rick knew that he wanted to get to +work on the artifacts they had flown down to Manila. The Ifugao +treasure, minus the skull, was under guard at the university museum. + +"Go on out to the museum," Rick said. "You're so restless I'm beginning +to itch just watching you." + +"Same here," Scotty agreed. "Go on, Tony. We'll wait here for word from +Chahda." + +"I really would like to," Tony said. "Perhaps I will, if you'll let me +know the moment Chahda comes." + +The boys promised to do so and Tony departed. They found comfortable +chairs in the lounge and ordered fresh limeades. + +"Angel should be arriving with the truck tomorrow," Scotty observed. + +"Yes, with Dog Meat. Wonder if Chahda will be back by then?" + +"I wish he'd let us know where he is," Scotty grumbled. "For all we +know, Lazada may have captured him and tossed him into Manila Bay." + +A waiter approached. "Ask him where our limeades are," Scotty said. "I'm +thirsty. And I'm getting hungry." + +"Again? We finished dinner less than an hour ago." + +"It didn't seem like dinner," Scotty explained. "I can't get used to +eating when the sun is high in the sky. I don't care what time it is, it +should be dark when we eat. Now it's dusk and I'm hungry." + +The waiter bowed. "Phone call for you, Mr. Brant--or Mr. Scott." + +"Thank you. Wonder who this can be?" + +"Chahda?" Scotty asked. + +"That would be too much to hope for. Besides, he sends notes whenever he +can. Doesn't like to phone." + +But it was Chahda. He gave them rapid instructions. Dress in dark +clothing. Meet him at Paranaque, a town to the south, just below the +airport. Hurry. Chahda hung up. He had obviously been excited. + +Rick and Scotty ran for their room. They changed clothes, then Rick +tried to phone Tony at the museum. There was no answer. Constabulary +Headquarters regretted that Colonel Rojas did not answer the phone in +his quarters. They would send a messenger to find him. Rick left the +message that he and Scotty were meeting Chahda, then the boys hurried to +the desk and left a similar message for Tony. + +A taxi took them to Paranaque. Like most small towns in the Philippines +it consisted of a cathedral, a market, a _botica_ or drugstore, and a +few houses. + +They found Chahda in front of the cathedral. He was dressed Filipino +style in slacks and sport shirt, and his hair had been recut to a +modified crew cut-the only cut possible after the Igorot one. + +They dismissed the taxi. Chahda had the jeep. While he drove them +through a backwoods road, he told them his story. He had pulled off the +one-lane road to let Lazada and Nast pass just before he reached Baguio. +Following them had been no problem from then on. They went to a house on +the outskirts of Baguio, and by asking a few questions of the house +servants--after first loosening their tongues with a few pesos--he had +found that Lazada was proceeding on to Manila by car the following +morning. + +"There was a chance he might give Nast the skull to take care of," +Chahda admitted, "but I not think so. Lazada not the kind of man with +liking for letting gold out of his hands. So I go to barbershop, get +haircut, pick up clothes where I left them with a friend of Dog Meat. +Then I drive to Manila and stop at Malolos." + +That was a town to the north of Manila on the road to Baguio. Chahda had +pulled the same trick of letting Lazada overtake him. + +"He comes by, and Nast is with him," Chahda continued. "I am surprised, +because Lazada goes right to his house. I wait around nearly all day. +Cannot call, because no phone handy. Well, tonight he took black +limousine, and he and Nast come to Paranaque. He has skull. They go to +this little barrio where we going, and go into nipa shack. Lazada stays +there with the skull. Nast goes off in the limousine. So what I think?" + +"What do you think?" Rick asked. + +"I think Nast goes to get somebody, to bring them to Lazada. So I rush +off and call you. Before you came, I saw Nast go by. So now the meeting +is being held, and we must figure how to get the skull." + +Chahda reached forward and switched off the jeep's headlights. For an +instant it was very dark, then as Rick's eyes became adjusted to the +darkness he saw that the road was visible as a white pathway between the +rice paddies. Ahead were the lights of houses. They had reached the +barrio where the meeting was to be held. + +Rick looked around and saw that the sky to the north was aglow with the +lights of Manila. Then he saw a plane take off and realized that they +were only a short distance from the airport. + +Chahda pulled off the road into a patch of nipa palms, went through the +palms, and parked behind a feathery thicket of bamboo. "We walk to +shack," he said. He took a bolo from under the rear seat of the jeep and +tucked it into his belt. + +The Hindu boy led them a hundred yards down the road, then turned off +onto a path. In a moment he pointed. + +Ahead, alone in a clearing, was a typical nipa hut. It was built on +stilts in the traditional Filipino way, and there was room underneath +the supporting posts for a tall man to stand upright. The house itself +was square, with walls of woven thatch made from the nipa palm. The roof +was pyramidal, heavily thatched with layer after layer of straw. The +floor was of split bamboo, a single layer of springy bamboo strips as +wide as a man's thumb laid across a framing of whole bamboo supports. + +Except that it allowed mosquitoes to roam in and out and gave no bar to +lizards or snakes, it was ideal for the climate. The openwork floor +allowed the breezes to circulate through the whole house. Also, +housekeeping was simple. Dust couldn't gather. It just fell through the +floor. + +Filipinos had lived in houses like this for centuries, but the influence +of Western civilization was visible in the form of electric lights. It +was visible in another way at this particular nipa hut, too. Next to it +was a shiny limousine, the property of Irineo Lazada. + +Chahda whispered, "We get close. Be very quiet and follow me." + +It was dark enough. Chahda led the way, and Rick and Scotty followed. +There was little cover, but there was no guard outside the house. +Apparently Lazada and Nast felt quite safe. They did not know how +effectively Chahda had shadowed them. + +Chahda made his way slowly until they were beside the big limousine. +There was a murmur of voices from above, Lazada's predominating. + +Rick swallowed hard as Chahda left the limousine and and walked right +under the hut, but he and Scotty followed, scarcely daring to breathe. +It was dark and he almost knocked over a stack of wooden boxes. Then, +under the hut, there was light. + +Rick had not realized that the bamboo floor was nothing more than a +latticework of bamboo strips. He could look right up between them and +see the occupants of the room! + +There was Lazada, of course, and Nast. And with them were two Chinese. + +Nast was talking, "Don't you worry about delivery. If I say I'll get the +skull into Macao, I'll do it. You just worry about the price." + +Rick recognized the name of Macao. It was the Portuguese colony on the +Chinese coast just below Hong Kong. It had the reputation of being the +gathering place for smugglers, gun-runners, Chinese river pirates, and +equally unsavory folk. + +One Chinese spoke in sibilant, accented English. "The price you ask is +too much. The skull is worth its exact weight in gold, at fifty American +dollars an ounce. What do we care if it is a very old native religious +object? That has value only for an Ifugao, not a Chinese, and our +customers are not Ifugaos." + +Rick gasped. Lazada and Nast were intending to sell the skull just for +the gold in it! + +Lazada put his hand on a box that sat beside him on the floor. "The +customers you have usually want bullion gold, true. But perhaps you have +one very wealthy customer who could use a museum piece of great value." + +"If we could have the skull legally, yes. But it is the only one of its +kind. In a few days the press will have sent its description to every +city in the world, because its loss is a good news story. No one in his +right mind would buy such an object." + +"I'm afraid he's right," Nast said. "We'll have to settle for its value +in weight. But that's worth something." + +Chahda pulled Rick's sleeve, then Scotty's. The boys followed him from +under the house back to the edge of the clearing. He whispered, "See the +box? I'm sure that is skull. Now, you feel brave?" + +"What's your plan?" Scotty asked. + +Chahda drew his bolo. "Bamboo cuts easy. Two swings and box falls into +our hands. We run like wild men, they not catch." + +Rick objected. "The skull is too heavy. We couldn't run with it easily. +They'd catch whoever had it." + +Scotty nodded. "And the box is too small for two people to get a good +grip on it. We'd fall all over each other." + +"Could be," Chahda agreed, but he was not convinced. He said that there +must be some way to get the box. + +Rick studied the house as though the sight of it might give him +inspiration. The house didn't, but something else did. "The purloined +letter!" he exclaimed suddenly. "Remember the story by Poe? No one found +the letter because it was in the most obvious place--so obvious that no +one looked." He whispered his daring plan. + +Scotty chuckled. "I'll even forgive you for biting me in Baguio, for +that one." + +Chahda salaamed. "Mighty is the mind of Rick. I glad you on my side. +Let's go." + +They sneaked back to the house and made preparations for the audacious +recovery of the box. Chahda tested the edge of his bolo, reached up with +it, and measured the length of his stroke and where the blade would +touch. It would work. He looked at the boys expectantly. + +Rick knew that bamboo was remarkable stuff. It had great strength +against nearly everything except a sharp blade applied across its grain. +But it had to be cut cleanly. Also, Chahda would have to make two cuts +before the box could drop through the floor. On the first cut, Lazada +and Nast would be moving. They could make it down the stairs before the +second cut was made. + +He shook his head at Chahda. Not yet. He motioned to Scotty and together +they examined the stairs, which ran down the outside of the framing. +Scotty gestured toward the boxes stacked at one corner of the house. +They examined them. The boxes were full of a special kind of sea shell +used commercially in the Philippines. They were fairly heavy. + +Working together, they piled a few boxes on the stairs. Anyone not +watching his footing might fall over them. + +Then Scotty motioned to a stack of bamboo poles just outside the house +pilings. He whispered, "You help Chahda. I'll use one of these." He +selected a long one about two inches in diameter and held it in both +hands like a lance. With Scotty standing beside the stairs, the pole +would reach almost through the door of the hut. + +Scotty nodded. Rick stepped to a position beside Chahda and nodded. + +Chahda flexed his muscles, wrapped his fingers tightly around the handle +of his bolo, spread his feet and swung. + +The steel blade hit the bamboo floor and sliced through, flying in a +great arc. + +There were yells from the men upstairs. Chahda swung again as running +feet made the floor vibrate. Scotty gave a wild yell and charged like a +knight attacking an enemy. The bamboo pole caught Nast in the stomach +and drove him back into the hut. + +The box containing the skull slid and caught. + +Chahda swung again, in desperation, and the box dropped through! Rick +caught it, and the weight would have driven him to the ground had not +Chahda given a hand. + +They rushed the box to its prearranged hiding place, then Rick gave a +piercing whistle. They ran, all three of them, in three different +directions. + +Chahda headed for the jeep. He ran quietly. Scotty headed south, yelling +as he went; Rick ran north, giving an occasional bellow. That was to +draw the pursuit away from Chahda, so he could get to the jeep +undisturbed. + +The pursuit had organized, apparently, because both Nast and Lazada were +barking orders. Rick kept yelling, but he was now in the brush. Scotty +was yelling, too. + +Rick pushed his way through the brush and emerged on the bank of a river +or estuary of some kind. Beyond, on the opposite bank, were rows of +wooden forms that marked the outline of salt pans. Water was let into +the square pools in the early morning, and by nightfall it had +evaporated, leaving its salt behind. + +For a tense moment Rick waited. Perhaps he was not being followed. +Perhaps they had followed Scotty. Then he heard the brush snapping and +knew they were on his trail. He had to keep going. He stepped into the +water and went right on until it was over his head. He spluttered, his +eyes stinging from the salt. The water was brine, already partially +evaporated and ready for the salt pans. + +A few strokes took him to the opposite bank. He climbed out onto the +salt pans, his clothes dripping and his shoes soggy. He ran. + +He was almost across the field of salt pans when a shot whistled past. +He bent low and ran faster, remembering that Nast carried a .38 in a +shoulder holster. + +The second shot was closer, but not close enough. He reached the field +beyond the salt pans and headed for a coconut grove about three hundred +feet ahead. The field was covered with a low-growing vine of some sort. +He floundered and tripped, then got to his feet again, looking back over +his shoulder. Apparently the pursuers were looking for a way across the +water. He couldn't see them. + +He reached the shadow of the coconut grove and stopped, glad of a chance +to wring out his clothes. He did so, a garment at a time, watching his +trail. In a few moments he saw two men emerge from a far corner of the +salt pans and start across. For a moment he turned to run, then an idea +struck him and he grinned. + +There was pretty complete darkness. He could see and be seen in the +open. But under the palms he would be invisible from a distance of +twenty yards. He need not run; he could wait until the pursuit passed, +then walk leisurely to the airport, get a cab, and go home. Chahda +probably was already there. He thought he had heard the jeep engine +start. Even if pursued, Chahda could get away all right. The jeep was +faster than the limousine on rough roads. + +Scotty's fate was less certain. If two men were after Rick, the other +two probably were after Scotty. They had scattered just for the purpose +of splitting the enemy forces, and to allow Chahda time to get the jeep +underway. + +As Rick watched, the two men reached the near edge of the salt pans. One +produced a flashlight and they walked along the edge of the salt pans +shining the light at the ground. + +Rick wondered. Surely they weren't looking for foot-prints. Both the +salt pans and the field were perfectly dry. He wasn't particularly +afraid of the flashlight. He would wait until they were close to the +palm grove, then move laterally away from them and lie flat on the +ground. The light couldn't pick him out from any great distance. + +The men walked slowly down the edge of the salt pans until they reached +the place where Rick had left the pans and entered the field, then, as +surely as blood-hounds, they followed the route he had taken. + +He stared, amazed. How had they tracked him? Then, suddenly, he knew. +Makahiya! The sensitive mimosa! The field was covered with it. And where +he had walked, the mimosa's leaves were rolled up tightly! + +Rick turned and ran through the grove, trying to be silent. He used a +beacon from nearby Manila Airport as a guide, and in a moment he saw red +lights on the other side of the grove. It was the field. They were +boundary lights. + +He saw instantly that he was in a bad spot. The only way to go was +straight ahead, across the open airport. He would be seen instantly when +his pursuers emerged from the grove, and from then on it would be a foot +race. There was nothing else to do but go on. He climbed over the +airport fence and started for the lights of the administration building +a mile away. + +To conserve his strength and wind he kept his pace to a dogtrot. He +crossed one paved strip and cast a look behind in time to see the +pursuers climb the fence. A yell told him he had been seen. He started +to zigzag, anticipating a bullet. His spine tingled and there was a +crawling sensation between his shoulder blades. But when the shot did +come it was such a wide miss that he did not even give an instinctive +duck. + +Somewhere down the line a big plane was getting ready to take off, the +pilot was checking his magnetos, revving up his engines. He searched for +lights as he ran and saw them over a mile down the field. It was a +Strato-cruiser, probably bound for America. Then he saw the runway ahead +and realized that it would be a race to see whether or not he got across +before the plane reached that point. The lights told him that the plane +was already moving. He lengthened his stride. + +He had a choice. He could stop and wait until the big plane passed, or +he could run for it and hope to beat it. If he stopped, it would give +his pursuers a chance to catch up. + +He ran faster, still breathing easily. But there were signs that his +wind was giving out. He cast anxious glances down the field. The big +plane was rolling, its engines roaring. He tried to gauge the point +where it would be air-borne, but it was too hard. It should be in the +air by the time it reached him, but he couldn't be sure. The runway was +only yards ahead now. He sprinted. + +The plane roared down at him. Then he was on the runway, realizing that +he would not be across in time. In sudden terror he threw himself flat, +just as the big plane lifted. The wheels were only a few feet above him +as it passed over. + +Then he was on his feet, running again, weak from the certainty of a +moment ago that he was done for. But the administration building was +only a short distance away now, and he found the strength to keep going. +He ran past astonished airport personnel, made his way through the crowd +that had come to see the flight off, and leaped into a taxi just ahead +of the Filipino gentleman who was about to enter. + +"Get going!" he panted. "Hurry!" The driver responded with a burst of +speed that snapped Rick back against the cushions. He turned and watched +through the rear window, but he couldn't see his pursuers. He had made +it! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Surprise Package + + +Colonel Felix Rojas fingered the eagle on one shoulder. "It took me +thirty years to become a colonel," he said. "If you are wrong, Colonel +Rojas will be Private Rojas by morning. You know that?" + +"If Lazada is at home," Rick repeated, "it will mean that he hasn't +found the golden skull. If he is not at at home, and doesn't come home, +it will mean that he has it." + +"You need not worry, Sahib Colonel. Rick has plenty bright idea. Lazada +will not find that skull, believe me," Chahda assured him. + +Chahda and Scotty had beaten Rick to the hotel, and had found both Rojas +and Tony Briotti waiting as a result of the messages the boys had left. +Chahda had gotten away easily, and he had lingered in Paranaque, parked +in shadow, until he saw Scotty go by. Then he had picked him up. When +Rick did not appear, they went to the hotel to wait for word. + +Scotty had ditched his pursuers easily by climbing a mango tree and +waiting until they passed. He was more at home in the woods at night +than any of them, including Chahda. + +Tony Briotti asked, "Does your father know what kind of chances you +take, Rick?" + +Rick grinned. "He's been along on a few expeditions, remember. He knows +we can take care of ourselves." + +"So do I, now. Colonel, I have faith in the boys' theory. I think we had +better go to Lazada's." + +Rojas nodded. "Even if it means being broken, the chance is worth it to +hang something on that man. Our republic is young. It cannot tolerate +men like him in public office. Without proof we cannot touch him, but if +the proof is there...." + +"It will be," Rick said confidently. + +Rojas picked up the phone and asked for a number. He got his connection, +gave his name, and asked for Captain Lichauco. To the captain he gave +orders. A platoon was to meet him at Lazada's in fifteen minutes. No +earlier and no later. Then he phoned Dr. Okola and requested that he, +also, be at Lazada's. + +"Now," Colonel Rojas said to the Spindrift group, "let us go." + +Ten minutes later they got out of the colonel's car in front of Lazada's +house. A Sikh guard started to open the door for them, but Chahda +stopped him and spoke rapidly in Hindi. The guard replied. + +"He here, also car," Chahda said. + +Colonel Rojas consulted his watch. "We'll wait here." + +The minutes ticked by in silence until the headlights of a truck +appeared. The truck pulled up and a young captain got out of the front +seat. He saluted. Rojas gave his crisp orders in Tagolog, which the +captain relayed to the men on the truck. They climbed down with a +minimum of noise and went to surround the house. + +"Now," Rojas said, "let us visit Mr. Lazada." + +He pushed open the door and marched up the front stairs, the Spindrift +group close behind. At the top of the stairs the constabulary colonel +brushed aside a houseboy and strode into the living room where Lazada +sat with Nast. The two leaped to their feet. + +Lazada turned red. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded. + +Colonel Rojas bowed. "I regret to inform you that you are under arrest +on charges of grand larceny, attempting to sell gold illegally, and +conspiracy to smuggle gold out of the country." + +Lazada snarled. "I'll have you broken for this, you fool! I don't know +what you're talking about." + +"I think you do. These American gentlemen have told me quite a story." + +"I'm sure of it. And whose word do you take? That of your countryman and +senior official, or the word of these foreign adventurers?" + +"Theirs," Rojas said. "I will accept from you the custody of a certain +golden skull, stolen by you from the Ifugaos." + +Lazada had recovered his composure. He chuckled. "I have no golden +skull. You are free to search, even without a warrant, Colonel." + +"Thank you. Please lead the way to your garage." + +"Certainly, but you will find nothing there but my car." + +Lazada led the way to the back of the house and down a flight of stairs +to a garage. If the sight of constabulary troopers with ready carbines +bothered him, he didn't show it. But Nast, obviously, was worried. He +kept casting glances at the boys. + +"Better give the colonel that shoulder gun you missed me with earlier +tonight," Rick told him. "You might hurt yourself with it." + +Colonel Rojas held out his hand. "Give." + +Nast did. + +In the garage was the limousine. Lazada waved at it. "As I told you, +nothing here but my car." + +"And a golden skull," Rick said. He opened the trunk and reached in for +the box! + +Lazada screamed with sudden fear and rage. He leaped for Rick. He met +Scotty's fist and sat down, hard. + +Colonel Rojas had been sweating profusely. Now, at the sight of the +golden skull, he took out his handkerchief, wiped his face, and smiled +contentedly. "We'll need a new Assistant Secretary now," he said +happily. "And we'll ship Mr. Nast back to America as an undesirable +alien. The authorities there will take him into custody." + +"Have you found it? Where is the skull?" someone called. + +Dr. Okola came running up the driveway, and with him, in immaculate +white linens, was Nangolat! + + * * * * * + +The group sat in Dr. Okola's office at the museum. Outside, constabulary +troopers were on guard. Inside, a fabulous collection of golden and +silver artifacts, dominated by the golden skull, received the admiring +attention of the Spindrift group, Colonel Rojas, Angel Manotok, and Dr. +Okola, with Nangolat as lecturer. + +When he had finished describing the various objects and their uses, the +Ifugao said, "And now, I must explain. I am here because I gave myself +up to Dr. Okola. He, in turn, will hand me to the police. I asked only +that I be permitted to examine the treasures." + +Tony Briotti shook his head. "I don't understand. You're intelligent, +well-educated, and well on the road to becoming a scientist. Why did you +do it?" + +Nangolat's broad face was sad but composed. "How can I explain? I almost +killed my good friend Angel. I attacked innocent American scientists who +had no evil intentions toward my people. I goaded the young men of +Banaue into war against the wishes of their elders. It is only because +my gods watched over me that I do not have your blood on my hands. But +how can I explain?" + +His dark eyes pleaded for understanding. "You cannot know what it is to +an Ifugao or an Igorot. In America you respect your primitives--your +Indians. But here, we are just aborigines--primitive animals, eaters of +dog. We are sneered at and despised. To Americans we are curiosities. We +wear breechcloths and funny hats that we use for pockets." + +"Nangolat!" Dr. Okola exclaimed. "I never suspected that you felt like +that. I thought we had always treated you as we did any other student." + +"You were the ones who treated me as a man," Nangolat admitted. "You and +Angel. But when I worked with you in tracing down the golden skull and +what it meant to my people, something happened. The more we learned, the +more I resented the attitudes of the others, those who despise the +Ifugao as a dog-eating animal. I believed that in the golden skull we +had the proof that the Ifugaos were better than any of you, that our +civilization was older. I lost my civilization. I forgot my friends. I +could only think that here was proof of the greatness of the Ifugao, and +that the Americans were coming to take it away." + +"But we said that the artifacts would remain here," Tony Briotti +reminded him. "We told Dr. Okola that we would not ask permission to +take them out of the country." + +"Yes, but I was worried. I went to Lazada, to plead with him to forbid +you to take them under any circumstances, and he told me that he was +helpless, officially. He said that the American Government would insist +on getting the treasures of my people, and that our own government would +have to yield because we need American financial aid." + +"Of all the rotten lies!" Rick exclaimed angrily. + +"Yes. But he was an official of our government and I believed him. Then +he goaded me. He said that only an Ifugao would allow such a thing to +happen, because the Ifugaos were less than men. Men would protect their +treasures. I was emotionally upset already. His goading drove me +berserk. I was truly mad. So, I acted as I did." + +"Tell them what happened at Banaue," Okola said gently. + +"Dr. Briotti convinced me that he was not trying to steal our treasure. +That is, he almost convinced me, and he did convince our priests. But +Lazada came, and he said the American ambassador was already demanding +custody of the treasure as soon as it was found. You know what happened +then." + +"We sure do," Scotty said. + +"Then the jeep got away, and later the plane came. We did not keep +attacking, because many of our young men had lost heart. They couldn't +see the sense of rushing into the muzzles of your rifles over some +treasure they knew nothing about. I had worked them up to the point of +attacking once, but I could not do it again. Then the plane dropped the +sack. We did not know what was in it, except that it must be part of the +treasure. Lazada carried it to his car. I followed and demanded the bag. +He said he had no bag, although it was in plain sight. He was smiling. +He said the plane got all the bags; he didn't have any. I saw at once +what he was doing. He was going to take the bag and pretend that he had +never seen it, and it would be the word of a group of poor Ifugao +natives against the word of a great official. I saw red. I reached for +him, and Nast struck me with his gun." + +Nangolat rubbed his head. "He knocked me out, and he knocked sense into +me. I walked to Bontoc and took the bus south. Now I am ready to be +punished." + +Rick was deeply touched by Nangolat's recital. He remembered how +favorably impressed they had been that first day, when they thought he +was Angel. "Speaking for myself," he offered, "I am grateful to Nangolat +for a warm reception at Banaue, and for an interesting visit to the rice +terraces." + +Scotty took the cue. "As for me, I haven't had so much fun in a fight +since that free-for-all at Canton Charlie's in Hong Kong." + +Chahda bowed. "I also represent ancient Asia people. Very grateful to +Nangolat for fine demonstration of how Ifugaos fight. Very different +from Hindu method." + +The three boys looked at Tony. He had suffered the most at Nangolat's +hands. Nangolat had tried to kill him, then had kidnaped him, and had +intended to take his head. + +Tony smiled. "And I am grateful to Nangolat for personally conducting me +to Banaue and for putting on such an interesting series of rituals and +dances." + +Angel Manotok went to Nangolat and took his hand. "Can a Filipino be +less of a friend than an American? It was too bad I fell on my head and +almost fractured my skull. How nice it was of you, Nangolat, to pretend +to be me so I would not lose face with the Americans by not appearing to +work for them." + +There were tears in the Ifugao's eyes. "What a magnificent group of +storytellers you are!" + +Colonel Rojas grinned. "Sounded like the truth to me, Nangolat. And if +anyone wants to know what kind of men the Ifugaos are, send them to me. +I led Mountain Province warriors against the Japanese. They attacked +tanks barehanded. They fought like fiends. They made me proud to be a +Filipino." + +Tony Briotti picked up the golden skull. "We have a lot of work to do, +Nangolat. We'll need your help. And all of us will have to testify +against Lazada." + +"Golly, that's right," Rick said. "What a nuisance that will be. We'll +have to wait around for weeks." + +"Not that long," Colonel Rojas promised. "This is one case that will be +tried in a hurry. But you will have to stay a while. You will my guests. +There's a lot of the Philippines you haven't seen. We might even be able +to stir up a little excitement for you." + +"No, thanks," Rick said. + +"Sorry," Chahda said. + +"Need peace and quiet," Scotty said. + +Tony laughed. "Don't believe them. They may stay quiet until tomorrow, +but I doubt it. What do you have in mind?" + +"I'd like to take them to Mindoro Island, south of here, to hunt +timarau. In case you don't know, those are water buffalo. They rate as +the most dangerous game animal in Asia." + +"Too exciting for me," Rick said. + +But in later years when the Ifugao expedition was mentioned, Rick, +Scotty, and Chahda always talked much more about the hunting on Mindoro +than they did about their encounter with the Ifugaos. And they were +prouder of the timarau heads in the study than of the Ifugao spears that +had been thrown at them and brought back by Angel as souvenirs. + + + + +_The_ RICK BRANT SCIENCE-ADVENTURE _Stories_ + +BY JOHN BLAINE + + + THE ROCKET'S SHADOW + THE LOST CITY + SEA GOLD + 100 FATHOMS UNDER + THE WHISPERING BOX MYSTERY + THE PHANTOM SHARK + SMUGGLERS' REEF + THE CAVES OF FEAR + STAIRWAY TO DANGER + THE GOLDEN SKULL + THE WAILING OCTOPUS + THE ELECTRONIC MIND READER + THE SCARLET LAKE MYSTERY + THE PIRATES OF SHAN + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Skull, by John Blaine + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN SKULL *** + +***** This file should be named 32270.txt or 32270.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/7/32270/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://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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