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clear:both; font-variant:normal; } - .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; text-indent:0; } - .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } - .toc dt.jr { font-style:normal; } - .toc dt a span.cn, .toc dt span.cn, dt span.cn { width:2.5em; text-align:right; margin-right:.7em; float:left; } - dt .large {font-weight:bold; } - -.clear { clear:both; } -.htab { margin-left:8em; } - /* MAXWIDTH FOR JUVENILE BOOKS */ - p, blockquote, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre { text-align:justify; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p, li, dd, dt, div.bcat, pre.internal dl { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.smaller { max-width:40em; } - p.csmallest { max-width:40em; } - p.small { max-width:31.25em; } - blockquote { max-width:23em; } - div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; } - - /* book advertisements */ - div.bcat dl dd { margin-left:4em; max-width:21em; } - div.bcat dl dt { text-indent:-2em; margin-left:2em; } - p.bkad {font-size:125%; font-weight:bold; margin-top:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } - p.bkpr {font-size:90%; } - p.bkrv { } - dl.blist dt { margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.blist, dl.biblio { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - - dl.int { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } - dl.int dt {margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; } - dl.int dd {margin-left:2em; } -</style> -</head> -<body> - -<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls, by Andy Adams</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<table style='min-width:0; padding:0; margin-left:0; border-collapse:collapse'> - <tr><td>Title:</td><td>Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls</td></tr> - <tr><td></td><td>Biff Brewster Adventures, #8</td></tr> -</table> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Andy Adams</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 04, 2021 [eBook #64694]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY OF THE CARIBBEAN PEARLS ***</div> -<div class="img"> -<img class="cover" id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls" width="804" height="1200" /> -</div> -<div class="img"> -<img id="insidecov" src="images/icover.jpg" alt="Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls" width="797" height="1199" /> -</div> -<div class="img" id="pic1"> -<img src="images/p03.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="1056" /> -<p class="caption"><i>It seemed as if every resident of the town swarmed in the narrow street</i></p> -</div> -<div class="box"> -<p class="jr1"><span class="ss"><b>A BIFF BREWSTER -<br />MYSTERY ADVENTURE</b></span></p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p03a.jpg" alt="Compass" width="225" height="234" /> -</div> -<h1>MYSTERY -<br />OF THE -<br />CARIBBEAN -<br />PEARLS</h1> -<p class="tbcenter"><span class="ss"><b>By ANDY ADAMS</b></span></p> -<p class="jr1"><span class="ss"><b>GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS -<br />NEW YORK</b></span></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_i">i</div> -<p class="center smallest">© GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC., 1962 -<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED -<br />PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_ii">ii</div> -<h2>Contents</h2> -<dl class="toc"> -<dt class="jr"><span class="jl"><span class="smaller">CHAPTER</span></span> <span class="smaller">PAGE</span></dt> -<dt><span class="cn">I </span><a href="#c1">Discovery!</a> 1</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">II </span><a href="#c2">Seeing Double</a> 5</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">III </span><a href="#c3">Backfire</a> 12</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IV </span><a href="#c4">Who’s Fooling Whom?</a> 19</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">V </span><a href="#c5">Appear and Disappear</a> 28</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VI </span><a href="#c6">Crunch</a> 37</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VII </span><a href="#c7">Gay Curaçao</a> 43</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">VIII </span><a href="#c8">Uncle Charlie Spins a Yarn</a> 48</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">IX </span><a href="#c9">Outmatched</a> 55</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">X </span><a href="#c10">Plan of Action</a> 61</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XI </span><a href="#c11">Biff Meets Crunch</a> 70</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XII </span><a href="#c12">Double Chance</a> 75</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIII </span><a href="#c13">Turnabout</a> 82</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIV </span><a href="#c14">A Talk with Crunch</a> 88</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XV </span><a href="#c15">Almost Away</a> 95</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVI </span><a href="#c16">A “Magic” Alarm</a> 102</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVII </span><a href="#c17">Reunited</a> 112</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XVIII </span><a href="#c18">All Set To Dive</a> 118</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XIX </span><a href="#c19">Pearl Diving</a> 125</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XX </span><a href="#c20">Enemy Invasion</a> 133</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXI </span><a href="#c21">A Gay Deception</a> 140</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXII </span><a href="#c22">Dashed Hopes</a> 147</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXIII </span><a href="#c23">Dietz Again</a> 154</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXIV </span><a href="#c24">Attack from the Deep</a> 159</dt> -<dt><span class="cn">XXV </span><a href="#c25">A Double Find</a> 167</dt> -</dl> -<div class="pb" id="Page_iv">iv</div> -<h1 title="">MYSTERY OF THE CARIBBEAN PEARLS</h1> -<div class="pb" id="Page_1">1</div> -<h2 id="c1"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER I</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Discovery!</span></h2> -<p>Lightning streaked the skies over the Windward -Islands. The Caribbean Sea was a tumbled mass of -foaming, angry waters.</p> -<p>The <i>chabasco</i> had struck with the quickness and -lashing fury that is the nature of this most feared of -tropical storms. A <i>chabasco</i> strikes without warning, -with tornado-like violence, whirling and smiting and -soaking. The storm ends as abruptly as it begins. The -air regains its calm. Only the churned-up waters continue -to smash upon the shore.</p> -<p>A final, brilliant flash of lightning revealed the -gaunt figure of a man stumbling through the raging -surf, fighting to reach the safety of the beach. He -staggered out of the roiling waters and fell face down -on the sand. His only motion was the agonized heaving -of his shoulders as he gasped for breath.</p> -<p>His boat, his diving gear were gone, smashed to bits -by the wildness of the storm which had washed him -ashore on this tiny speck of an island. The island, he -knew, was in the Baie du Trésor, Treasure Bay, off -the east coast of the big island of Martinique.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_2">2</div> -<p>As strength flowed back into the man’s body, he sat -up. Frantically he shot his hand into a pocket of his -wet, worn, sun-bleached dungarees. An expression of -relief crossed his face. In the faint light of a rising -moon, he inspected the two objects in the upturned -palm of his hand.</p> -<p>He held two perfectly matched black pearls.</p> -<p>This was the end of his search, the end of weeks under -the blazing sun of the Caribbean; the result of -hundreds of dives to the bottom of the sea. He knew, -and he had the evidence in his hand, that he had made -a discovery which would startle the entire area of the -Caribbean Sea from the Florida keys to the coast of -South America.</p> -<p>He had discovered a pearl fishery so fabulous, so unbelievably -rich, that his find would make headline -news throughout the world.</p> -<p>He knew also that unless he could keep his find -secret until his claim on the pearl fishery was established, -treasure seekers and money-mad cutthroats -would descend on him like hungry sharks.</p> -<p>He felt sure that his actions and explorations had -been secretly watched. He knew who the watchers -were—unscrupulous men waiting hungrily to move -in and jump the claim he had struggled so hard to -find.</p> -<p>His first problem was to get off this tiny speck -in the bay and back to Martinique. He was no more -than five miles off the shore of the main body of the -big island. If he had reckoned his position correctly, -there was a long spit of land jutting out from Martinique -that he could reach by a two-mile swim. He -would need to rest. Calm now, he settled into the sand -to sleep.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_3">3</div> -<p>When the man awakened, the light of a brilliant -tropical morning proved that he had been correct in -determining his position. The sandspit jutted out, welcoming -him. Farther beyond he could see the lush, -green-covered pitons rising in the center of Martinique. -Some of these peaks reached a height of nearly -four thousand feet.</p> -<p>The man began his long, slow swim. He had no -fear of the sea—though he knew sharks abounded in -these waters, and he was unarmed.</p> -<p>But by midmorning he had reached the mainland -of Martinique safely. He was pleasantly tired from -his long swim, and stretched out on the warm sands -to rest and allow his clothing to dry.</p> -<p>In the early afternoon he reached the town of La -Trinité, sprawling at the approach of Presqu’île de -la Caravelle, the peninsula that formed the Baie du -Trésor.</p> -<p>He found a room in a small <i>pension</i>, a rooming -house, and spent most of the night writing two letters. -One of them was addressed to his son in The Netherlands. -The other was to Charles Keene on the island -of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles.</p> -<p>Along with the letters, he carefully prepared two -small boxes.</p> -<p>In the morning, he was standing at the post office -door the moment it opened. It was with great relief -that he saw his letters and packages go into the -mailbag that would be trucked over the pitons to -Fort-de-France at noon, then flown on to Curaçao -on the night flight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_4">4</div> -<p>In his relief and great elation over his discovery, the -man shed the characteristic watchfulness that usually -marked his movements. He momentarily had -dropped his guard, and did not notice that his every -action had been closely followed from the moment he -had arrived in La Trinité.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_5">5</div> -<h2 id="c2"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER II</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Seeing Double</span></h2> -<p>The cablegram was short and to the point.</p> -<p>MAY I BORROW MY FAVORITE NEPHEW -FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS STOP URGENT.</p> -<p>It was signed, “Charles Keene,” and had been sent -from Willemstad, Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles.</p> -<p>Biff Brewster, the favorite nephew referred to in -the cablegram, looked at his parents hopefully.</p> -<p>“Well, Martha, what do you think?” Thomas -Brewster asked Biff’s mother, as the three of them -stood in Mr. Brewster’s study.</p> -<p>“Oh dear! I really don’t know what to say.” A -frown spread over Mrs. Brewster’s pleasant, friendly -face, drawing her arched eyebrows closer together. -“It seems to me that Biff is away from home so much -of the time.”</p> -<p>“I know, dear. But you must admit that we have -encouraged these trips. I still feel that travel is as important -to a boy’s education as his formal schooling,” -Tom Brewster replied to his wife’s mild protest.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_6">6</div> -<p>“And Uncle Charlie says it will only be for a -couple of weeks,” Biff put in. “My spring vacation -starts next week. I wouldn’t be missing much school—only -a day or two at the most.”</p> -<p>Biff looked from his mother’s face to his father’s. -He wanted so much to go. In his mind’s eye, he was -already seeing the sparkling waters of the Caribbean -Sea, dotted with palm-studded islands, long white -beaches, and coral reefs.</p> -<p>The Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, Martinique, -Aruba, Barbados, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts—all -these colorful, romantic, exciting names raced through -the boy’s head.</p> -<p>“How’s your Spanish these days, son?” Tom Brewster -asked.</p> -<p>“It’s okay, Dad. I’m scoring well in it at school, -and of course I picked up a lot more Spanish when -we were in Mexico.”</p> -<p>Biff was beginning to feel easier. His father’s question -was an indication that one-half of his parents -was considering favorably Uncle Charlie’s cabled request.</p> -<p>“How ’bout it, Mom?” Biff pressed the opening his -father had given him. “You know Uncle Charlie -and I always get along swell. We’re a good team.”</p> -<p>Charles Keene was Mrs. Brewster’s brother.</p> -<p>“Charlie’s so reckless, though,” Mrs. Brewster continued -in a voice registering protest. “If I remember -correctly, you and he barely made it out of China -before getting into serious trouble.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_7">7</div> -<p>Biff had no answer to this statement. It was all too -true. He and Uncle Charlie had been flown out of -China—they had slipped across the border illegally—to -Rangoon in Burma and then on to the British -Crown Colony of Hong Kong, with Chinese Red -agents breathing down their necks.</p> -<p>“Any idea what your brother is doing in the Caribbean?” -Mr. Brewster asked his wife.</p> -<p>Biff’s mother shook her head. “Not any more than -you have, Tom. Have you heard from your uncle, -Biff?”</p> -<p>“Only one letter since we got chased out of China,” -the boy replied. “That came about a month after I -got back home. All he said was that things were too -hot for him to operate in the Orient for a while.”</p> -<p>“He is still with the firm of Explorations Unlimited, -isn’t he?” Mr. Brewster asked.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes. Uncle Charlie said the company was -negotiating a contract that would have him operating -in this hemisphere. He didn’t say what kind of operation -it was, though.”</p> -<p>“It must be tied in with his wanting you to come -to Curaçao, son.”</p> -<p>“Looks that way, Dad. What about it, Mom?” Biff -looked hopefully at his mother. She didn’t reply for -a few moments. Then she said, “Well, I suppose—”</p> -<p>Mrs. Brewster never finished her sentence. The -youngest members of the Brewster family burst into -the study.</p> -<p>“Mom! Dad! It’s a cablegram!” eleven-year-old Ted -Brewster shouted, waving an envelope over his head.</p> -<p>“Yes! Another one,” Monica, Ted’s twin sister, -chimed in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_8">8</div> -<p>The twins were five years younger than Biff. Their -ambition was sometime, someday to travel “a-<i>lone</i>,” -as they emphatically put it. They listened goggle-eyed -to tales of the adventures Biff and his father or -Biff and Uncle Charlie had shared. On several occasions -the twins had gone with their parents and -brother to the romantic places where these adventures -had taken place. Mrs. Brewster, always present when -the twins were voyaging, had taken great care to see -that her two youngest were not exposed to the dangers -that had accompanied Biff’s far-away adventures. -Ted and Monica could hardly wait until they were -old enough to take part in them themselves.</p> -<p>“It’s for you this time, Biff,” Ted said. Excitement -shone on his young face. His eyes sparkled.</p> -<p>“I’ll wager I can tell you who it’s from,” Mr. Brewster -said, smiling.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie! Uncle Charlie!” Monica pealed, like -a gay bell.</p> -<p>Biff ripped open the envelope. The room became -silent.</p> -<p>“It’s from Uncle Charlie all right,” Biff said. Then -he read: “YOUR PASSAGE BOOKED SOUTHERN -AIRLINES FLIGHT ONE TWO NINE -TO MIAMI SUNDAY MARCH TWELVE. RE-PLANE -MIAMI FOR CURAÇAO CARIB AIRWAYS -FLIGHT TWO NINE SIX. BE SEEING -YOU. LOVE TO ALL.”</p> -<p>Biff handed the cablegram to his father and looked -at his mother.</p> -<p>“I must say my brother takes things pretty much -for granted,” Mrs. Brewster said, laughing.</p> -<p>“That’s Charlie for you,” Tom Brewster said. -“When he goes into action, he moves fast.”</p> -<p>“He surely does, Dad, whether it’s against Chinese -bandits or sending cablegrams,” Biff agreed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_9">9</div> -<p>“One cable this morning. A second this afternoon. -Well, I guess we’d better be making up our minds, -Martha. What do you say?”</p> -<p>“Can we all go?” Ted wanted to know.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes, I’d love to go to the West Indies,” -Monica pleaded.</p> -<p>“I’m afraid it will be just Biff this time,” their -father said. “Providing, of course,” he added hurriedly, -“your mother approves. Well, Martha?”</p> -<p>Martha Brewster shrugged her shoulders and smiled. -She was still torn. But she had great confidence in her -son’s ability to take care of himself. He had proved -this time and time again. And Charles was her favorite -brother, reckless though he was.</p> -<p>“All right, Biff darling. I might as well give in now -as later. I know you and your father won’t give me a -moment’s peace until I do.”</p> -<p>Mrs. Brewster’s statement was met with cheers led -by Ted and Monica. Biff crossed the room and put -an arm around his mother’s shoulders. She pressed her -head against her strong son’s chest.</p> -<p>The conference in the Brewster home in Indianapolis, -Indiana, came to an end.</p> -<p>Sunday morning at ten o’clock found the Brewster -family at the Indianapolis airport. Flight 129, southbound -for Miami, had already been called. The last -hasty farewells were said, and ten minutes later the -plane speeding Biff southward became a mere speck -in the sky to his mother and father and the twins.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_10">10</div> -<p>The plane zooming Biff to another adventure landed -at the Miami airport in the late afternoon. Coming in -over the city of fabulous hotels, America’s playground, -Biff could see the lingering rays of the setting sun -slanting out over the bouncing waters of the Atlantic -Ocean.</p> -<p>From Carib Airways, Biff learned that the flight -which was to take him on to Curaçao was not scheduled -to depart until midnight. After a dinner of delicious -stone crabs, Biff wandered up and down Lincoln -Road, the famed shopping center in Miami Beach, -gazing into the windows of the shops which lined the -streets.</p> -<p>He left Lincoln Road and swung on to Collins -Avenue. One hotel after another, each in turn seeming -more luxurious than its predecessor, lined the east -side of the avenue, between the street and the white, -sandy beach.</p> -<p>The night air was warm and gentle in contrast to -the cold, blustery March winds Biff had left behind -him in Indianapolis.</p> -<p>Biff returned to the airport shortly after eleven, reclaimed -his baggage, which he had checked, and -waited for his flight to Curaçao to be called.</p> -<p>The call came just ten minutes before midnight:</p> -<p>“<i>Carib Airways announces the departure of Flight -two nine six, for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Willemstad, -Curaçao, and Fort-de-France, Martinique. Now loading -at Gate Nine. All aboard, please.</i>”</p> -<p>Biff joined the line which was moving slowly -through Gate 9. He looked carefully about him, as -he always did, spotting faces that he might run into -again. He had learned in the past that it was wise to -remember as much about one’s fellow passengers as -possible. No telling when such knowledge might -come in handy. Besides, he found the faces of traveling -people interesting. On many long rides, he had -amused himself by trying to guess where they had -come from, where they were going, and why.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_11">11</div> -<p>The line shuffled slowly forward. Flight 296 was -filled. There would be no seats for the hopeful -standbys.</p> -<p>Biff had checked his heavier bag through earlier, -when he had presented his ticket. Now he carried -only a small, light dispatch case. Accidentally, as the -person directly in front of him stopped suddenly, -Biff’s dispatch case swung forward, striking the person -on the calf of one leg.</p> -<p>“Pardon me,” Biff said.</p> -<p>The person turned around. Startled, Biff stopped -quickly. He even backed up a step in his amazement.</p> -<p>“Am I seeing things?” Biff asked himself, giving his -head a shake and blinking. “Am I asleep? It can’t be. -It just can’t be.”</p> -<p>The person Biff stared at returned his stare. The -same astonishment spread over the face of the boy -he had bumped.</p> -<p>Biff’s own mirror at home couldn’t have reflected -his image better. He might have been looking at himself!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_12">12</div> -<h2 id="c3"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER III</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Backfire</span></h2> -<p>Neither boy spoke, so startled were they by their -striking resemblance to one another.</p> -<p>“This can’t be,” Biff said, half aloud. “That boy is—is—ME!”</p> -<p>The other lad must have been thinking the same.</p> -<p>“Step forward, please,” the gate attendant called -out sharply. “Keep the line moving.”</p> -<p>In their astonishment, Biff and his double had -stopped in their tracks.</p> -<p>Dazedly, Biff and the other boy reached the gate. -They presented their tickets. The attendant looked -from one to the other.</p> -<p>“Twins?” he asked, a smile on his face.</p> -<p>Still apparently unable to speak, the boys shook -their heads.</p> -<p>They walked across the apron leading to the waiting -aircraft. As they walked along, side by side, each -cast quick, questioning glances at one another.</p> -<p>It was unbelievable!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_13">13</div> -<p>The boys were the same height. Both were broad -of shoulder. Both carried their well-muscled bodies -with the grace and posture of the trained athlete.</p> -<p>The only immediately noticeable difference distinguishing -the boys was their clothing. Biff was hatless, -as always. The other boy wore a hat. Biff wore -light gray slacks, a soft sleeveless sweater, and a loose -sports coat. His double wore a tight-fitting, dark-blue -suit and a white, high-collared shirt. His clothes were -as formal as Biff’s were informal.</p> -<p>They mounted the loading ramp and entered the -plane. The stewardess gave them the same interested, -friendly look the gate attendant had given them.</p> -<p>“I’m sure you two will want to sit together,” she -said. “You’re twins, aren’t you?”</p> -<p>“No, ma’am,” Biff gulped.</p> -<p>The stewardess seated the boys, disbelief showing -in her eyes as they shifted from the face of one boy -to the other. She started moving toward the door, -but kept turning her head to cast a look at the boys.</p> -<p>Biff was seated next to the window. His seat companion -arose, removed his hat, and placed it on the -rack above. His hair was cropped short, as Biff’s was. -It was a shade darker, perhaps, but just a shade. Biff’s -habit of going hatless could have made the difference.</p> -<p>On close examination of the boys’ faces, there was -one noticeable difference. Biff’s eyes were bluish-gray. -The other boy’s were a deep blue.</p> -<p>Biff turned in his seat to confront his companion.</p> -<p>“Since we look so much alike,” Biff said, “maybe -we’d better find out who we are. I’m Biff Brewster. -So you can’t be. I mean, if I am Biff Brewster—and -I know I was until I saw you just now—then you -must be someone else.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_14">14</div> -<p>Biff was having a hard time trying to say what he -meant. He wasn’t exactly sure just <i>what</i> he meant.</p> -<p>The other boy smiled.</p> -<p>“I am glad to make your acquaintance, Biff Brewster,” -he said quite formally. “My name is Derek -Zook. I am from The Netherlands.”</p> -<p>Derek’s English was good with hardly any trace of -accent. His phrasing, somewhat stiff and formal, -marked it as Continental, not American, English. It -was obvious that he had acquired his knowledge of -the language at school. His sentences didn’t have the -free and easy swing of a native language.</p> -<p>“Where are you going?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“I go to Willemstad in Curaçao. That’s in the Netherlands -Antilles.”</p> -<p>“Yes, I know,” Biff replied. His astonishment continued -to grow as the coincidences grew. “I’m going -there too. Here we are. We look alike, and we’re going -to the same place. Now how about that!” Biff -laughed. Derek joined in the laughter.</p> -<p>For the next few minutes the boys were quiet as the -aircraft taxied to its take-off runway. The four engines -revved up. The plane started rolling slowly -down the strip. It rolled and rolled, gaining momentum. -Then it was airborne, heading out over the -Atlantic toward Port-au-Prince, Haiti, nearly eight -hundred miles away.</p> -<p>During the flight, Biff and Derek became more and -more friendly. They had much in common, but Biff -noticed during the conversation that while Derek was -most willing to talk about his home in The Netherlands, -his schooling, and other, incidental topics, he -said nothing about why he was going to Curaçao.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_15">15</div> -<p>Biff was cagey, too. If Derek wouldn’t talk about -the reason for his flying across the Atlantic to visit a -speck of an island in the Caribbean, then Biff felt it -wise to say as little about his own visit as possible.</p> -<p>There wasn’t much Biff could tell, anyway. He -wouldn’t know why his Uncle Charlie wanted him -until he saw him. Biff did tell Derek that he was going -to be met by his uncle, but he didn’t tell his new -friend the kind of work Uncle Charlie did.</p> -<p>The plane flew high over the easternmost tip of -Cuba. Near three o’clock in the morning, Haiti was -spotted, a dark, shadowy mass in the grayness of the -dawn. High up over the Haitian mountains, the sky -could be seen lightening on the eastern horizon. -Neither boy saw it. They had talked themselves out -and were sleeping.</p> -<p>The plane went into a sharp descent for its landing -at Port-au-Prince. There was an hour’s delay before -the plane took off on its next leg, the two-and-a-half -hour flight to Curaçao.</p> -<p>Derek was the first to stir. Biff opened one eye, -closed it again, and settled down into the seat.</p> -<p>“Do you know our time of arrival, Biff?” Derek -asked, his voice clear and wide awake.</p> -<p>“’Bout seven,” Biff mumbled sleepily. “Let’s get -some more shut-eye.”</p> -<p>“Shut-eye? I do not understand,” Derek said, puzzled.</p> -<p>“Sleep,” answered Biff. “Good old sleep. But I can -see this is the end of it for now.”</p> -<p>Wide awake, the two boys chatted in low voices -until the island of Curaçao, fifty miles off the coast -of Venezuela, came into view.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_16">16</div> -<p>The island is less than forty miles long and not -more than seven miles wide at its broadest point. From -the air, it looked like a long splinter. To the south, -the boys could see the mountainous coastline of oil-rich -Venezuela.</p> -<p>The plane began a long, gradual descent for its landing -at Willemstad. It came in low, seemingly only a -few feet above the spanking waves of the Caribbean -Sea. It shot over land and, minutes later, the crunch -of the aircraft’s rubber-tired landing wheels was felt -throughout the plane.</p> -<p>As the plane rolled to a stop, an idea hit Biff. “Hey, -Derek. I’ve got a plan,” he exclaimed. “A good one. -I’d like to play a joke on my uncle.”</p> -<p>“Good, I like jokes, Biff. What is it?”</p> -<p>Biff didn’t answer right away. Some of the excitement -and eagerness faded from his face. “I just -thought—somebody must be waiting to meet you, so -I guess my idea wouldn’t work.”</p> -<p>“I’m not sure anyone is going to meet me, Biff. In -fact, I’m almost certain no one will.”</p> -<p>Biff was so busy thinking about his idea that the -significance of Derek’s reply didn’t register. Only -later did he remember the remark, and realize how -strange it was that Derek, who had come thousands -of miles, had no one to meet him.</p> -<p>“In that case then,” Biff went on, “here’s what I -have in mind. We look so much alike, I’d like to try -and see if we can fool my uncle. So, if you’re game, -here’s my plan. You get off the plane first. Go right -into the terminal. If you look as much like me as I -think you do, and as others do too, then Uncle Charlie -will think you’re me.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_17">17</div> -<p>A grin came over the Dutch boy’s face.</p> -<p>“That does sound like fun. I’d be Biff Brewster to -your uncle, wouldn’t I?”</p> -<p>“That’s right. I’ll stay in the plane until you’re in -the terminal. I’ll follow you in about five minutes.”</p> -<p>The passengers were piling out of their seats now, -reaching up to the racks above for their hats and -coats. Derek retrieved his hat, turned to wink at Biff, -and started toward the front of the plane.</p> -<p>“Hey, Derek!” Biff called. “Wait a minute.”</p> -<p>Biff got up and overtook his new friend.</p> -<p>“’Fraid Uncle Charlie would spot you in a second -if you wore that hat. He knows I never wear one.”</p> -<p>Derek took off his hat and handed it to Biff.</p> -<p>“Another thing,” Biff continued. “Your coat. Looks -too European for me to be wearing it. Let’s change.”</p> -<p>Derek doffed his suit coat and put on Biff’s sports -jacket. Then he left the plane.</p> -<p>Biff, grinning in anticipation, waited until almost -everyone was off the plane. Then, wearing Derek’s -coat and hat, he deplaned and walked toward the -terminal.</p> -<p>As he stood at the entrance to the terminal, it took -several moments for Biff’s eyes to adjust from the -bright glare of the outside sun to the soft light of the -terminal’s interior. He looked about, trying to spot -his uncle. He finally saw him, to the right, standing -in front of a cigar counter, smiling as he talked to -Derek.</p> -<p>Biff was starting toward his uncle and Derek when -two men entered the terminal from the street side. -They looked around quickly, saw Biff, and came hurriedly -over to him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_18">18</div> -<p>“Derek Zook?” one of the men asked.</p> -<p>Before Biff could protest or explain, the other man -grasped him firmly by the arm.</p> -<p>“We must hurry. Your father is waiting.”</p> -<p>Biff found himself being hustled toward the terminal -exit.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_19">19</div> -<h2 id="c4"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER IV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Who’s Fooling Whom?</span></h2> -<p>Biff was wedged tightly between the two men. They -pressured him toward the exit. He could have resisted, -probably could have escaped in the crowded terminal, -but since they were moving in a direction that -would take them right past Uncle Charlie and Derek, -Biff decided against a struggle.</p> -<p>He saw that his uncle was watching the action -closely. Derek, fortunately, had his back turned. Biff’s -“friendly” captors would not be able to see Derek’s -face and remark the striking resemblance.</p> -<p>Within a few feet of Uncle Charlie and Derek, Biff -decided to make his move. He opened his mouth to -shout. Uncle Charlie fixed his eyes firmly on Biff and -shook his head. A big wink from Uncle Charlie -warned Biff further to take no immediate action. -Uncle Charlie tossed his head, gesturing toward the -exit door.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_20">20</div> -<p>Biff read these signals as quickly as if his uncle had -given them to him verbally. Uncle Charlie wanted -him to go with these men. Why, Biff didn’t know, of -course, but he realized that his uncle must have a real -purpose behind his strange action.</p> -<p>Outside the terminal, Biff was hustled into a black -limousine. It was a long, sleek-looking foreign car, -all windows tightly closed. Was this to prevent any -outcry from being heard, Biff wondered? Or was it -simply because the car was air-conditioned against the -tropical heat?</p> -<p>As the car pulled away, Biff quickly glanced out of -the rear window. He hoped to see his uncle pulling out -in another car to follow. The streets, filled with -tourists, honking cars, and cyclists blocked his vision. -“Well, he must be following me,” Biff said to himself. -“I hope,” he added.</p> -<p>Biff was in the rear seat with one of the men. The -other was driving.</p> -<p>“You had the good trip from The Netherlands?” -the man asked.</p> -<p>“From where?” For a moment Biff had forgotten -the role he was playing; forgot he was impersonating -Derek. “Oh, yes. Yes, very good,” he replied. “It was -quite exciting, flying over the ocean.” Biff was careful -not to mention which ocean.</p> -<p>“And your father, so anxious to see you, he is,” -Biff’s seat companion said.</p> -<p>“Why wasn’t he at the airport?” Biff asked. He had -decided to play along with these men. So far they had -shown no outright enmity, had displayed no threatening -signs. Even so, Biff felt certain that should he -try to leap from the car, he would be forcibly detained.</p> -<p>“He is not well. His explorations at the bottom of -the sea have exhausted him.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_21">21</div> -<p>One more bit of information, Biff thought. Now -he knew that Derek’s father was searching for something -on the ocean bed. What? Sunken treasure? -These waters had been plied by pirates in the olden -days.</p> -<p>“He will welcome what you have brought him,” -the man said.</p> -<p>Now just what could that be, Biff asked himself. -This man obviously was trying to pump him—trying -to get him to reveal some information.</p> -<p>“It is important to his search, no?” the man continued.</p> -<p>“Come on, now,” Biff thought. “You don’t think -I’ll fall for that leading question.” From the cautious -manner of the man’s questioning, it occurred to Biff -that the man himself probably didn’t know exactly -what Derek Zook was bringing from The Netherlands.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes, I am sure that I will be of much help -to my father,” Biff said aloud.</p> -<p>“Ah, good,” the man replied.</p> -<p>“You know, sir,” Biff said, “we have been together -for ten minutes, and although you know my name, I -don’t know yours.”</p> -<p>“A million pardons, my young friend. I am Herman -Dietz. And my friend driving is Sidney Cade. He is -more often called Specks, however. Perhaps you can -see why?”</p> -<p>Biff already had noticed that the driver’s face was -covered with red blotches. Some of them were small -freckles. Others were unpleasant red spots the size of -a nickel.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_22">22</div> -<p>For several moments they rode in silence. Biff was -fascinated by the sights around him. They were riding -parallel to a broad waterway. On either side, large -oceangoing ships were moored to gaily colored quays. -Cruise ships, Biff thought to himself. Shops lined the -sides of the quaint street along which they were traveling. -Tourists crowded these shops, which displayed -souvenirs, perfumes, colorful sea shells, shoes, neckties, -and women’s handbags.</p> -<p>Dietz noticed Biff’s interest.</p> -<p>“Curaçao, you know, is a free port,” he told him. -“There are no duties charged on the thousands of -items for sale. That means that perfumes, for example, -which would cost fifty, a hundred dollars an ounce -elsewhere, cost only a small fraction of that amount -in Curaçao.”</p> -<p>Biff knew this fact. He meant to buy presents for -his family while in Curaçao. He didn’t comment, -though. Dietz wanted to be friends. Biff felt it advisable -to go along with him until he showed his hand -more plainly.</p> -<p>Another block and the limousine turned into a -curving driveway and stopped in front of a white, -four-story building.</p> -<p>“Here we are,” Dietz said, opening the door.</p> -<p>As Biff got out, he noticed a small, gold-lettered -sign reading: “Hotel Del Mar.” Just before mounting -the steps to the hotel lobby, Biff cast a swift -glance back in the direction from which they had -come. He saw a small sports car pull over to the -curb. He wasn’t certain, but the two figures he saw -in the car could be his uncle and Derek.</p> -<p>“My father is here?” Biff asked, as the trio crossed -the lobby to the elevators.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_23">23</div> -<p>“He is to meet us in a room upstairs,” Dietz replied -as they entered an elevator.</p> -<p>Dietz’s quick reply caused more doubts to grow in -Biff’s mind. It seemed to him that any father, unless -so ill or injured as to be confined to bed, would certainly -want to meet a son who had made the long -flight all the way from Holland.</p> -<p>Stopping off on the fourth floor, Dietz led the way -down a long corridor to a room at the end. He took -out a key and inserted it in the lock. He didn’t knock, -Biff noticed. “Pretty rude,” he commented mentally, -as Dietz pushed the door open.</p> -<p>“Enter, Derek,” Dietz said.</p> -<p>Biff preceded the two men into the room. One -quick glance showed him it was empty. He heard the -door close behind him and the key turn.</p> -<p>Turning around swiftly, Biff challenged Dietz, saying, -“My father—he’s not here. And he has never been -here. You know that. Why was I brought here?”</p> -<p>Dietz’s reply was surprising.</p> -<p>“You are very clever, for one so young,” Dietz -said smoothly. “No, your father is not here.”</p> -<p>“Then where is he? I demand that you take me to -him at once.”</p> -<p>“You must be patient. Allow me to explain.”</p> -<p>“It’s about time you did!”</p> -<p>Specks was standing with his back to the door, as -if expecting Biff to try to force his way out of the -room.</p> -<p>“It would have been highly dangerous for us to -have taken you directly to your father,” Dietz continued -his explanation.</p> -<p>“Go on,” Biff demanded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_24">24</div> -<p>“Has your father written you about a man who -was once in his employ?” Dietz asked.</p> -<p>“He may have, and he may not. That is my business -and my father’s,” Biff answered in an angry voice.</p> -<p>“Ah ... and would that man’s name be Charles -Keene?” Dietz went on smoothly.</p> -<p>Now here was a twist, Biff thought. This is an -angle to explore more thoroughly.</p> -<p>“I may have heard that name,” Biff said. “To be -truthful, I have.”</p> -<p>“Then you must know that this Charles Keene represents -a great danger to your father and what he has -worked for so long.”</p> -<p>This situation was growing more and more weird. -Dietz was talking about Biff’s favorite uncle, but not -knowing it, of course. Dietz was completely convinced -that Biff was Derek and thought he was telling -Derek Zook about a complete stranger. Biff already -was beginning to get an idea of what Dietz was leading -up to. The double-cross was becoming clearer. -What Dietz didn’t know was that he was double-crossing -himself.</p> -<p>“Keene was discharged by your father. For good -reason. But this made Keene furious. He swore revenge -on your father.” Dietz paused.</p> -<p>Biff could just see his Uncle Charlie’s expression -when he passed Dietz’s story on to him.</p> -<p>“We knew that Keene would be at the airport to -meet you—”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_25">25</div> -<p>“How could you have known?” Biff asked. The -only way Dietz <i>could</i> have gotten this information -was directly from Uncle Charlie. Derek’s arrival evidently -had not been foreseen, or Derek would have -expected to be met. But his, Biff’s, arrival, had been -planned by his uncle. Why would Uncle Charlie have -passed this word on to Dietz? That question was a -real puzzler. Biff felt he might get more of the answer -by letting Dietz go on with his lying explanation.</p> -<p>“We have kept a close watch on Keene’s actions.”</p> -<p>That’s for sure, Biff thought.</p> -<p>“We knew he planned to meet you at the airport. -It was his intention to prevent a meeting between you -and your father until he could extract certain valuable -information from your father. Only then would -he permit you to join him.”</p> -<p>“And just where do you come in on this?” Biff -asked.</p> -<p>“Ah—we are your father’s friends. We have worked -closely with him. That is why he asked us to meet -you.”</p> -<p>Dietz was digging a bigger hole for himself to fall -into. Since he thought Biff was Derek, Dietz had no -idea, of course, of how he was giving himself away.</p> -<p>“We had arranged to stop at this hotel just in case -Keene tried to follow us. I was sure that he would -try. He wants to know where your father is. But I -am equally certain that we have eluded him.”</p> -<p>“I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Mr. Dietz,” Biff -said to himself. Aloud, he said, “And how can you -be sure?”</p> -<p>“I go now to make certain. I will look around most -carefully. If I do not see Keene, then it will be safe for -us to take you to your father. Specks, here, will stay -with you to protect you.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_26">26</div> -<p>Biff wasn’t fooled. He knew that Specks was being -left behind to keep him from escaping. From the -wily smile on Dietz’s face, Biff knew that whatever -the plan was, Dietz thought it was moving ahead -smoothly. Biff smothered a crazy desire to laugh. -Dietz’s plan would be working out successfully if the -real Derek were here.</p> -<p>One thing was very clear to Biff as Specks locked -the door behind Dietz. These men did not know -where Derek’s father was. They were stalling. The -whole elaborate story Dietz had woven showed that. -His plan must have been to get Uncle Charlie to lead -him to Derek’s father. Dietz had figured he could do -this if he could get to Derek first. When Charles -Keene failed to meet Derek, he would have to go to -Zook and explain. Dietz probably had planted a -man at the airport to spot and follow Keene.</p> -<p>“And this all started,” Biff said to himself, stretching -out in a comfortable chair, “when I wanted to -play a practical joke on my uncle by having him -think Derek was I.”</p> -<p>Then it dawned on Biff. He couldn’t have played -it the way Uncle Charlie had wanted any better if -Uncle Charlie himself had planned the switch in identities. -It looked to Biff now as if Uncle Charlie -didn’t know where Derek’s father was, either.</p> -<p>Parts of the whole puzzling experience had fallen -into place. But there were more pieces still to be -fitted together.</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie would know the answers. But where -was he? Nearly half an hour had passed since Dietz -had left the room. Specks, sprawled in a chair, still -watched Biff closely.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_27">27</div> -<p>Idly, Biff rose and strolled across the room and -sauntered out on the balcony. He could feel Specks’ -eyes following him, but the man made no move.</p> -<p>On the balcony, Biff understood Specks’ inactivity. -There was little chance of getting out of the room -this way. The drop to the water below was at least -seventy-five feet—straight down.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_28">28</div> -<h2 id="c5"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER V</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Appear and Disappear</span></h2> -<p>“Thinking of taking a swim?” Specks called out. -“Some dive you’d have to make first, eh?”</p> -<p>Biff turned around. He could see the fat, satisfied -grin on Specks’ face. Biff recrossed the room and -stood over the comfortably sprawling Specks. He -wasn’t too big a man. “Bet I could take him,” Biff -thought.</p> -<p>Biff’s determined expression seemed to alarm Specks. -He sat upright in his chair, but at the same time cringed -against the back of it. Some of Specks’ boldness had -left the room with boss Dietz.</p> -<p>Only one thing held Biff back and kept him from -mixing with Specks. What would he accomplish by -overpowering his guard? Where would he go? He -had to wait until Uncle Charlie appeared. And supposing -he was successful in taking Specks? Dietz -might come back before Uncle Charlie showed up.</p> -<p>As these thoughts raced through Biff’s mind, a -knock came on the door. It was barely audible. Biff -looked at Specks and started for the door. Specks -leaped out of his chair and jumped for Biff. He tried -to push Biff aside, and they tangled.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_29">29</div> -<div class="img" id="pic2"> -<img src="images/p04.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="1263" /> -<p class="caption"><i>“Think you can handle him?” a voice behind them said</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_30">30</div> -<p>Their struggle was brief, halted by a voice from -behind them.</p> -<p>“Think you can handle him?”</p> -<p>Biff and Specks swung around. On the balcony, a -nonchalant smile on his handsome face, stood Uncle -Charlie.</p> -<p>Specks, his head pivoting from Biff to Charlie, a -frightened look in his eyes, reached for the doorknob. -He wanted out, and fast.</p> -<p>“Grab him!” Uncle Charlie ordered and came -charging across the room.</p> -<p>Not once so far had Uncle Charlie called Biff by -name. Biff took his lead from this. Uncle Charlie still -didn’t want Specks to know that Biff wasn’t Derek.</p> -<p>Biff wrapped his arms around Specks, restraining -him. Uncle Charlie, at their side, grabbed Specks by -the shoulders and wrenched him away from Biff’s -grasp.</p> -<p>“Now, how do you want to play this?” Charles -Keene asked. His voice was firm, grim, even though -his eyes held a sparkle of amusement.</p> -<p>Specks didn’t reply. He tried to pull away from -Uncle Charlie’s grasp. He didn’t have a chance.</p> -<p>“There are several ways of handling you,” Biff’s -uncle went on. “You see this?” He removed one -hand and doubled it into a ham-sized fist. “It’s pretty -large for a sleeping tablet. But well placed, like right -here”—he flicked Specks’ jaw with the fist—“and -I’m sure you will take a long, long nap.”</p> -<p>Specks cowered.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_31">31</div> -<p>“Or, we could tie you up. But if you’ll be a good -little Specks, and not try anything, we’ll leave you -alone. Now get over to that chair and sit down.” -Charlie’s voice was angry now, and he shoved Specks -violently toward the chair.</p> -<p>Specks toppled over the chair’s arm, shrank back in -it, and tried to make himself even smaller than he was.</p> -<p>Biff and his uncle moved over to a corner of the -room most distant from Specks and talked to one -another in low tones.</p> -<p>“Good to see you, Biff. Sorry I had to welcome you -this way. But things are beginning to move. I didn’t -expect to plunge you into this up to your neck so fast, -but I think things are working out better than I had -hoped.”</p> -<p>In a low voice, Biff replied, “Uncle Charlie, just -before you came in from the balcony, there was a -knock on the door. There was another man here, too, -not so long ago. A man named Dietz. That knock -could have been him.”</p> -<p>“I don’t think so, Biff. I’m sure it wasn’t.”</p> -<p>“Then who could it have been?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Why don’t you go to the room next door and find -out,” Uncle Charlie suggested, grinning broadly. “Go -ahead. Specks won’t give me any trouble.”</p> -<p>Biff shrugged his shoulders, opened the door, and -stepped out into the hallway. He shook his head. That -was Uncle Charlie for you. Daring, reckless, always -making a mysterious game out of any situation. Keeping -up the suspense as long as possible.</p> -<p>Although he didn’t always approve of his uncle’s -methods, Biff had to admit that with Uncle Charlie, -there was never a dull moment.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_32">32</div> -<p>Moments later, Biff returned.</p> -<p>“Well?” The big grin was still on Uncle Charlie’s -face. It disappeared instantly on Biff’s report.</p> -<p>“There is no one in the room next door,” Biff said in -a quiet, steady voice.</p> -<p>“Stay here!” Charles Keene leaped for the door. -Biff, standing in the doorway, saw him dash into the -adjoining room. He was back out in a flash. No longer -did he wear a grin. His expression was as serious as Biff -had ever seen it.</p> -<p>Charles Keene walked back to Biff, his brows knitted -in worry and anger.</p> -<p>“I guess I outsmarted myself,” he said.</p> -<p>“Who was I supposed to find in the next room?” -Biff whispered. “Derek?”</p> -<p>“Yes. It was he who knocked just before I came in. -It was this way. We couldn’t be sure how many -people might have been in this room. We knew you -were. We followed you to the hotel—”</p> -<p>“But how did you know what room I’d be in?”</p> -<p>“Oh, that was easy. I’m well known here at the Del -Mar. The clerk told me Dietz’s room number. I took -the room next to it.”</p> -<p>“You know Dietz, then?” Biff cut in, glancing sidewise -to make sure Specks could not overhear them.</p> -<p>“Do I? He’s a bad one. Getting more and more -desperate, too. There’s a pot of gold that he’s afraid -we’re going to get to first.”</p> -<p>“Pot of gold?”</p> -<p>“Well, not literally; not actually gold. But it’s worth -many pots of gold—big ones.”</p> -<p>“Go on, Uncle Charlie,” Biff whispered. “How did -you get over to this balcony?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_33">33</div> -<p>“There’s a ledge, not a very wide one, that joins -the balconies....”</p> -<p>Biff remembered the ledge now. It wasn’t more -than ten inches wide. His uncle had taken a dangerous -chance in crossing on that narrow ledge from -his room to this one.</p> -<p>“The boy, by knocking on the door, was to cause -enough distraction to give me time to cross the ledge -to this room. I was counting on the element of surprise -if I found you being held by more than two -men. Remember, surprise can add the strength of another -man to any attack.”</p> -<p>“I sure will remember.”</p> -<p>“Well, when I got to your balcony and saw just -you and Specks, I knew things were going to be easy.”</p> -<p>“But it didn’t work out quite that way,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“No. I never thought Derek would be in danger.”</p> -<p>“And now he’s disappeared.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie nodded his head. He strode back -into the room and stood, hands on hips, glowering -down at the cowering Specks.</p> -<p>“Where is he?” Charlie demanded. “Where’s -Dietz?”</p> -<p>Specks didn’t answer.</p> -<p>“Speak up, or I’ll make you talk.”</p> -<p>“I don’t know,” Specks replied. His high voice -cracked as he answered. There was no doubt but that -Specks was almost numb with fear.</p> -<p>Charles Keene reached down and grabbed the man -by the shoulder. He shook him like an angry lion -shaking its kill.</p> -<p>“Please, Mr. Keene,” Specks begged. “I don’t know. -That’s the truth.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_34">34</div> -<p>Biff tugged at Uncle Charlie’s arm, and he released -his hold on the man.</p> -<p>“What is it?” Charlie asked, looking into Biff’s face. -Biff indicated with a nod of his head for his uncle to -follow him. He then went to the doorway and stood -in the hallway. His uncle came along.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie, that man’s too frightened of you to -talk, even if he does know where Dietz has gone.”</p> -<p>Charles Keene nodded his head. “Guess you’re -right, Biff. Got any ideas?”</p> -<p>“Yes. And I’ve got some questions, too.”</p> -<p>“Fire away.”</p> -<p>“What do <i>you</i> think has happened to Derek?”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie puzzled this question a few moments -before replying.</p> -<p>“Two things could have happened. Dietz could have -returned just as Derek knocked on the door, or when -he was returning to our room.”</p> -<p>“You mean he forced Derek to go with him?”</p> -<p>“Yes. That could have happened.”</p> -<p>“But wouldn’t Derek have called out? Yelled for -help?” Biff protested.</p> -<p>“Not necessarily. You see, Biff, Derek doesn’t -know me any better than he knows Dietz. You two -switching identities at the airport was a good joke. -But then the joke turned into a serious matter.”</p> -<p>“Right!”</p> -<p>“I didn’t have enough time to fill Derek in on what -was actually going on,” Uncle Charlie continued. -“He can’t really be sure whether I’m working for him -or against him. The same thing holds for Dietz. Dietz -is a fast and smooth talker.”</p> -<p>“I learned that, myself,” Biff said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_35">35</div> -<p>“And Derek may have thought that you, by suggesting -the switch in identities, might have been in on -a plot for me to get my hands on him.”</p> -<p>“I see. It could look that way. Look, Uncle Charlie, -if you would tell me what this whole thing is all -about, I might be more help.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie apparently didn’t hear Biff’s last remark. -He was deep in his own thinking.</p> -<p>“Or, this could have happened,” he continued. -From his tone of voice, Biff could tell that his uncle -was more voicing his thoughts than speaking directly -to him.</p> -<p>“Derek might have felt that I was holding him. -And after knocking on this door, he could well have -gone right on down to the lobby intending to leave -the hotel. Dietz might have seen him there.”</p> -<p>“And told him you were a crook and that he would -take Derek to his father.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie nodded his head in agreement.</p> -<p>“Look, Uncle Charlie, just where is Derek’s -father?”</p> -<p>“Brom Zook? I don’t know, Biff.”</p> -<p>“Dietz doesn’t know either, does he?”</p> -<p>“I’m not sure.”</p> -<p>It was just as Biff had reasoned. Neither his uncle -nor Dietz knew where Derek’s father, Brom Zook, -was, and each thought the other might know.</p> -<p>“You were both hoping that the other would lead -you to Brom Zook?”</p> -<p>“That’s about how it shapes up, Biff.”</p> -<p>“How long has Derek’s father been missing?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_36">36</div> -<p>“I haven’t seen him for over three months. The only -communication I’ve had from him was a letter and a -package. They came two weeks after I last saw him.”</p> -<p>There were still many questions Biff wanted to ask -his uncle. But right now, Biff figured they could wait. -The important thing was to find Derek—and Derek’s -father.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie, if you think Dietz knows where -Brom Zook is, then Specks would know, too, wouldn’t -he?”</p> -<p>“Yes, I should think so.”</p> -<p>“Then wouldn’t it be best to release Specks? Tell -him he’s free? Then we can follow Specks. If Dietz -has talked Derek into going with him, or forced him -to do so, then Specks will lead us to Dietz, Derek, and -maybe even to his father.”</p> -<p>Charles Keene thought about this for a moment.</p> -<p>“You’ve got something there, Biff. You’re using -your head better than I am. We’ll do it. You go on -down to the lobby. Find a spot where you can’t be -seen by anyone leaving the elevator. I’ll turn Specks -loose and come down the stairs the moment he gets in -the elevator. All right?”</p> -<p>Biff nodded his head.</p> -<p>“Good luck, Biff,” his uncle called out as Biff -headed for the elevator.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_37">37</div> -<h2 id="c6"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER VI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Crunch</span></h2> -<p>Uncle Charlie had been right about Derek. -The Dutch boy had followed Keene’s instructions to -the letter—up to a certain point.</p> -<p>Derek had watched Charles Keene climb over the -balcony railing and onto the ledge leading to the next -room. He had held his breath as he watched the older -man press close to the building wall and inch his way -along the narrow ledge toward the next balcony.</p> -<p>“Are you all right?” Derek had called softly.</p> -<p>Charles Keene, perspiration breaking out on his -face, nodded his head in reply.</p> -<p>Derek had gone back into the room. Moments -passed. Then he had slipped quietly out into the hallway -and moved to the next door. Then he had -knocked. He had waited a few minutes, trying to understand -the muffled words coming from the other -side of the door.</p> -<p>According to the plan, he was supposed to return -to his room and wait for Biff.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_38">38</div> -<p>“Should I?” Derek asked himself. He was even -more confused than Biff had been by the strange turn -of events. Charles Keene had seemed a pleasant -enough chap. But in the ride from the airport to the -hotel, he had been vague in some of the answers he -had given. It was hard to distrust Keene, but his explanations -had been so sketchy that Derek’s suspicions -had been aroused.</p> -<p>He had even wondered about the switch he had -agreed to make with Biff. Why had Biff suggested the -switch? Was it only a practical joke, or was there -some deeper reason for Biff’s suggestion?</p> -<p>What had really started Derek’s doubts had taken -place at the airport. When Biff and the two men had -passed in the airport, Charles Keene had restrained -Derek from calling out to Biff.</p> -<p>Derek made up his mind. He would not return to -the room Keene had taken him to. If Keene wasn’t -to be trusted, then Derek knew he would have a -much greater chance of getting away from him in the -hotel lobby than in a small room. Derek went to the -elevator. Biff had missed him by only minutes when -he went to find him.</p> -<p>In the lobby of the Del Mar, Derek took a seat with -a clear view of the elevator bank and the door to the -street. His eyes swung from one to the other. Derek -was alert, waiting for any development.</p> -<p>Once he dug his hand into the inside pocket of his -jacket. Alarm spread over his face when the object he -was feeling for wasn’t there. He almost panicked. -Momentary relief came to him when he remembered -that he was still wearing Biff’s sports jacket. This relief -was short-lived.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_39">39</div> -<p>The package he had reached for was of vital importance -to Derek. But Biff had swapped coats with -him. Biff now had the package containing the small -object of such value.</p> -<p>Had that been the real reason Biff had wanted to -switch identifications? So that Biff could get possession -of the package? It was hard for Derek to accept -this theory. He had developed an instant liking for -Biff. He felt that Biff had felt the same way about -him. And how could Biff have known that he, -Derek, was going to be in the airport in Miami? -Could Biff possibly have known and arranged to be -on the same plane?</p> -<p>It was too much of a puzzle for the Dutch boy.</p> -<p>Derek watched the floor indicator dial over one elevator -move, showing an elevator descending. Would -this be Biff? Or Charles Keene? The door slid open. -An elderly couple emerged.</p> -<p>He turned his glance toward the street door. A -man entered alone. He looked somewhat familiar to -Derek. Where had he seen him?</p> -<p>The man glanced swiftly about the lobby. His eyes -rested for a fraction of a second on Derek, then -turned away. The man started for the elevator. Almost -there, he stopped abruptly and swung around to -look closely at Derek. Disbelief showed in his eyes.</p> -<p>Derek recognized the man now. He had been one -of the two who had walked out of the airport terminal -building with Biff.</p> -<p>The man crossed quickly to the chair where Derek -was sitting.</p> -<p>“Derek! You—you escaped! I mean—tell me, what -happened?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_40">40</div> -<p>The man seemed confused. He was obviously unable -to believe what he saw.</p> -<p>Dietz was confused. More so even than he displayed -to Derek. How had Derek managed to get -away from Specks? What had happened in the short -space of time he had been away? He would have to -play this very cagey now. Earlier, when he had been -in the same room with this boy he could tell that the -youth had grown suspicious of him.</p> -<p>Dietz took a stab in the dark.</p> -<p>“Did Keene come?” he asked. “And you got away?”</p> -<p>That was true enough. Derek had gotten away -from Keene. But how did this man know that he had -been with Keene? He couldn’t know—not yet—that -it had actually been Biff Brewster, not Derek Zook, -who had left the airport with him. Derek’s mind -spun dizzily for a moment. “Catch hold of yourself,” -he said sternly to his whirling brain.</p> -<p>Derek began thinking. Both he and Dietz held their -silence for a few moments, stalling for time, each trying -to think how to learn what the other actually knew.</p> -<p>“Yes, I left Mr. Keene,” Derek finally replied.</p> -<p>“Was there trouble? Specks—did Keene attack -him? Was that when you made your escape?”</p> -<p>The picture was becoming clearer. The “Specks” -Dietz referred to must have been the other man who -had been with Biff and this man at the airport.</p> -<p>Derek had a pretty good idea now of what Dietz -must be figuring had happened. Believing Specks was -guarding the real Derek, Dietz must think that Keene -had broken in on them and overpowered Specks, and -that during the melee, he, Derek, had fled. It would be -wise, Derek thought, to find out as much as he could.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_41">41</div> -<p>This man must be the one Keene had referred to as -Dietz. Derek decided to find this out.</p> -<p>“Yes, Mr. Dietz. That’s what happened.”</p> -<p>“Thank goodness you made your escape,” Dietz -replied. “Keene is a dangerous man. Dangerous to -you and your father.”</p> -<p>This was just about the same thing Keene had said -to Derek about Dietz, Derek remembered. “Caution,” -his brain flashed. “Which of them is lying?”</p> -<p>“My father?” he said aloud. “It is safe for you to -take me to him now?”</p> -<p>“Oh, yes. Yes, we must leave at once. Before Keene -comes down here.”</p> -<p>Dietz’s answer was quick. A bit too quick, Derek -thought. But just what or whom was he to believe?</p> -<p>“We can go to him now. At once.”</p> -<p>“Where is he?” Derek asked this question in Dutch. -This was to be the big test as to whether he would -trust this man. Derek had asked one question of Keene -in Dutch. Keene hadn’t replied. At the time, Derek -had thought that perhaps Keene hadn’t been listening -to him, he had been so busy telling Derek why he had -permitted Biff to leave the airport with the two men.</p> -<p>“Your father is in a small hacienda to the north of -Willemstad. A half hour’s drive.”</p> -<p>Dietz had replied in Dutch. Derek decided to take -a chance.</p> -<p>“All right. Let’s go.”</p> -<p>Derek didn’t see the look of satisfaction and relief -that flashed over Dietz’s dark features. He got up and -followed Dietz out of the hotel. Moments later, Biff -stepped out of the elevator. He just missed seeing -Dietz and Derek leave the hotel.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_42">42</div> -<p>Derek got into the same sleek, black limousine that -had brought Biff to the hotel only an hour before. -Dietz got behind the wheel. He wove through the -crowded streets of Willemstad. The town and its -houses and buildings looked very much like a small -waterfront town back in Holland. The houses were -the same type. Willemstad, Derek recalled, had been -named for a small village back in Holland.</p> -<p>Leaving Willemstad behind them, Dietz sped along -a narrow, winding road that climbed the foothills -toward the highest point in Curaçao. Suddenly he -swerved off the paved road onto an unimproved, heavily -rutted dirt road. Ten minutes more and Dietz -nosed the car through an arched opening in a pink -stone wall. Ahead, Derek could see one large, rambling -house, again stone, but painted a bright yellow, -and several smaller stone buildings.</p> -<p>Dietz stopped in front of the entrance. Immediately -there came out the largest man Derek had ever seen. -His complexion was a light coffee-brown. He wore -knee-length breeches. His legs and feet were bare. His -heavy muscles bulged beneath a thin white shirt, its -ends tied around his waist.</p> -<p>Without another glance at Derek, Dietz spoke to -the giant.</p> -<p>“Take over, Crunch.”</p> -<p>Crunch was well named. Derek learned this when -the man clamped a hand on his arm, grinning down at -him evilly.</p> -<p>Derek knew now that he had placed his trust in the -wrong man. But it was too late. He was powerless to -resist. Crunch had the strength to match his giant size.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_43">43</div> -<h2 id="c7"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER VII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Gay Curaçao</span></h2> -<p>Biff scanned the lobby of the hotel carefully as he -emerged from the elevator. No sign of Derek, no sign -of Dietz. They had left only minutes before Biff -reached the lobby.</p> -<p>The stairway Uncle Charlie would be coming -down, Biff noticed, led into the lobby just to the -right, and slightly behind the elevator bank. Biff decided -that behind the stairway would be the best place -for him to watch for Specks. There was a large -potted plant at the foot of the stairway. Biff got behind -it. From here, he couldn’t be seen, yet he had a -good view of the elevators and the stairs. Specks in his -frightened haste might take the stairway. He might -not want to wait for an elevator, scared as he must be -after Uncle Charlie had given him a verbal working-over.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_44">44</div> -<p>The elevator must have been waiting on the fourth -floor, for Specks came out of it into the lobby just -after Biff had taken up his position. He saw the little -man glance nervously around the lobby. Probably, -Biff guessed, he was looking for boss Dietz. He needed -his support, needed it badly.</p> -<p>Specks then headed for the exit. He moved at a -pace so rapid that he bumped into several people who -were entering.</p> -<p>“Where’s Uncle Charlie?” Biff asked himself. “If he -doesn’t get here right now, we’ll lose Specks.” Biff -stepped out from behind the huge plant and glanced -up the curving stairs. No Uncle Charlie. Biff did think -that he heard someone coming down, coming fast, -taking two or more steps at a time. “That must be -he,” Biff thought. He decided to go after Specks, hoping -his uncle would be right behind.</p> -<p>In the curved driveway outside the hotel, Biff -looked right and left. Specks must have pulled out of -there at a rapid clip. He wasn’t in sight. Uncle Charlie -came out of the hotel, taking the three steps at a leap.</p> -<p>“Where is he? Which way did he go?”</p> -<p>“I don’t know,” Biff replied. “He was gone by the -time I got out here.”</p> -<p>“Come on, then.” Uncle Charlie, on the run, headed -for the street. Biff was at his heels.</p> -<p>On the sidewalk, they tried to spot Specks.</p> -<p>It seemed to Biff he had never seen so many people -crowding the streets, all of them in a gay, holiday -mood.</p> -<p>“It’s no use, Biff,” Charles Keene said. “We’d never -catch Specks in this crowd, even if we knew which -way he went.”</p> -<p>“Guess you’re right,” Biff replied. “But I hate to -give up. I want to find Derek. Don’t like the idea of -his thinking you and I are against him.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_45">45</div> -<p>“I know how you feel, Biff. Tell you what. Let’s -just wander around, circulate among the crowds. -Who knows, we might bump into him. If we don’t, -locating him is going to take time and organization.”</p> -<p>Biff felt there would be little chance of that happening. -He knew that his uncle was just trying to -cheer him up. So, thought Biff, why not? See some of -the town at the same time.</p> -<p>“Okay, Uncle Charlie, lead on.”</p> -<p>The man and boy joined in the thronging crowd of -tourists, sight-seers, and bargain hunters.</p> -<p>“Four big cruise ships in, Biff,” Uncle Charlie said. -“That’s why Curaçao is really hopping today.”</p> -<p>They stopped at several shops. Both kept an eye out -for Derek, and Biff’s uncle made several inquiries of -shopkeepers. No luck. “Let’s acquaint you with this -fabulous city first, Biff,” he said. “Then back to the -hotel for a powwow on our next move.”</p> -<p>Biff looked over some German cameras in El -Globo on Heerenstraat. He was delighted with the -store run by Juluis Penha on Breedestraat. This store -sold dolls from all over. He bought a Dutch doll for -Monica. It was dressed in traditional Dutch clothes—wooden -shoes, a gaily colored frock, and a stiff -winged hat. He found a Swiss watch at Spritzer and -Fuhrmann, and was surprised at how inexpensive it -was. He bought it for his brother Ted and smiled as -he thought of Ted’s face when he saw it.</p> -<p>As they walked along, Uncle Charlie kept up a -running fire of conversation, giving Biff a good picture -of life in Curaçao.</p> -<p>“All the houses are different colors, Uncle Charlie. -Why is that?” Biff asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_46">46</div> -<p>Each house was distinct from the other, even if its -color varied by only a shade. Some were light pink, -others darker pink. There were bright green-painted -houses, and light green ones. Others were different -shades of blue and yellow.</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie chuckled before replying.</p> -<p>“Don’t know how true this story is, Biff, but here’s -the natives’ explanation of why the houses here are so -gaily colored. Many years ago, all the houses here -were whitewashed. It seems the unrelieved glare of -all the white houses hurt the governor’s eyes. So, -being a powerful man who knew what he wanted, he -ordered the houses to be painted the colors of their -owners’ choices. Simple as that.”</p> -<p>“If you’re a governor,” Biff replied, laughing.</p> -<p>“And you see that large building over there?” -Uncle Charlie pointed to a magnificent structure -standing on top of a hill.</p> -<p>“Big enough to be a palace,” Biff commented.</p> -<p>“It’s Franklin D. Roosevelt House, the United -States consulate. The Dutch built it up there on Ararat -Hill to express their thanks for our protection of -these Dutch islands during World War II.”</p> -<p>“That was really nice of them.”</p> -<p>“Good neighbors, the Dutch.”</p> -<p>Biff stopped in front of a store displaying beautiful -English china and Swedish crystal. He pretended to -be inspecting these beautiful wares. Actually he was -listening intently to a rapid-fire conversation between -two native clerks.</p> -<p>“I don’t get it,” Biff said, shaking his head.</p> -<p>“What don’t you get?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_47">47</div> -<p>“The language they’re speaking. I thought at first -it was Spanish. I know I caught some Spanish words. -And some English words. And I could pick out some -Portuguese, too. But it’s all so mixed up.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie laughed. “No wonder you’re puzzled. -They’re speaking a language made up of more -different languages than any other in the world. It’s -called Papiamento. The jargon is a combination of -Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese, African, and -Indian words. Carib Indians. A few French words -thrown in, too.”</p> -<p>“Just like Curaçao itself.”</p> -<p>“That’s right, Biff. This island is filled with many -races although the Dutch are predominant.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie looked at his watch, then glanced up -at the sun. “Aren’t you getting hungry? It’s after -noon,” he said.</p> -<p>“Now that you remind me,” Biff replied with a -grin, “I’m starving.”</p> -<p>“Like to go back to the hotel, or how about some -real Dutch-Javanese food? Dutch cooking is good. -Heavy, though.”</p> -<p>“Lead me to it.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie took his nephew to Koreman’s Old -Dutch Tavern on Columbusstraat. They started out -with a delicious Dutch pea soup, for which the restaurant -is famous, and followed it with a Javanese dish of -pork and vegetables with a thick curry sauce.</p> -<p>“Like it, Biff?”</p> -<p>“Delicious. But, as you said—heavy. I’m so full -now, I don’t think I’ll ever want to eat again.”</p> -<p>“This stuff really sticks to your ribs. But if I know -you, you’ll be starving again in a few hours. Come on, -we’ll go back to the hotel. You must have some questions -buzzing in your brain.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_48">48</div> -<h2 id="c8"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER VIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Uncle Charlie Spins a Yarn</span></h2> -<p>“Make yourself comfortable, Biff,” Uncle Charlie -invited, when they were back in his room at the Del -Mar. “You must be tired. Night flight, exciting morning. -Get much sleep on the plane?”</p> -<p>“Few hours. I think that food made me sleepier -than anything, though. Boy, am I glad to get this coat -off! Too tight for my taste.”</p> -<p>Biff took off Derek’s coat, which he had been wearing, -and tossed it toward a chair. As the coat landed, a -small white box fell out of the pocket. Uncle Charlie -pounced on it like a hungry cat on a mouse.</p> -<p>“What is it, Uncle Charlie?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>Charlie had taken the lid off the box and was inspecting -the object in it with a triumphant smile on -his face.</p> -<p>“What luck! I think this will clinch our case against -Dietz and Company. And at the same time, I can see -now why Derek might be very suspicious of both of -us.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_49">49</div> -<p>Uncle Charlie put the lid back on the box and replaced -it in Derek’s coat.</p> -<p>“You still haven’t told me what it is,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“Give me time. And when I do, a lot of things -will become clear.”</p> -<p>“So, Uncle Charlie is going to be mysterious again,” -Biff said to himself. Biff sprawled out on the bed and -waited for Uncle Charlie to start talking.</p> -<p>“It all goes back to our days in Burma and China, -Biff. You know Explorations Unlimited still has its -headquarters in Burma. Sumatra’s not too far from -Burma. Lots of Dutch people in Sumatra. It was once -a Dutch colony. And Explorations had done quite a -bit of work for some of the Dutch businessmen there.</p> -<p>“Just after we had to get out of Burma—you remember, -of course—Explorations received an inquiry -as to whether its operations extended to the Netherlands -Antilles. Jack Hudson—you recall him, don’t -you, Biff?—cabled me.”</p> -<p>Biff nodded his head. Jack Hudson also worked for -Explorations Unlimited. It had been Jack who had -flown into China and rescued Biff and his uncle when -Biff had taken part in the <i>Mystery of the Chinese Ring</i>.</p> -<p>“So Jack cabled me,” Uncle Charlie went on. “An -inquiry had come from a friend of Derek’s father, -Brom Zook. Brom wanted someone to work for and -with him. I got the job. I’d picked up a seaplane with -my earnings in China and had been kicking around the -Caribbean, charter flights and so on.”</p> -<p>“What did he want you to do?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Pilot him back and forth from here to Martinique. -Run a speedboat he has in Martinique.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_50">50</div> -<p>“I know from what Dietz told me that Derek’s -father is looking for something on the bottom of the -ocean? What is it? Sunken treasure?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“In a way, yes. And he’s found it, too. It’s a pearl -fishery—”</p> -<p>“Pearl fishery!” Biff’s voice showed his excitement.</p> -<p>“Yes. A fabulous one. If the samples Brom has -found so far are an indication, there are millions of -dollars of pearls waiting to be taken, from a spot of -ocean floor just off the coast of Martinique.”</p> -<p>Biff was sitting up now, leaning forward. This was -fascinating to him. Pearls, taken from the bottom of -the ocean!</p> -<p>“It was the very end of November, I guess, when I -last saw Brom,” Charles Keene said. “I’d taken some -new skin-diving equipment over to him. He indicated -to me then that he thought he was nearing his goal. -He said I’d hear from him within a week. I was to -come back to Curaçao and await word.”</p> -<p>“Why Curaçao, Uncle Charlie, when he was working -in a French possession?”</p> -<p>“Because he’s a Dutch citizen. Everything he does -over there has to clear through the Dutch authorities -and the French consulate here.”</p> -<p>“I see,” Biff nodded his head.</p> -<p>“Well, nearly two weeks went by. I was worried. I -flew back to Martinique. I couldn’t locate Brom. He -had gone to sea in his speedboat, loaded with supplies. -I hung around La Trinité—that’s the town we headquartered -in—for a couple of days, then came back -here. Nothing else for me to do.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie got out of his chair and walked over -to the balcony.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_51">51</div> -<p>“Then I got a letter and a package from Brom,” -Uncle Charlie continued. “And that’s the last I’ve -heard from him. Oh, I’ve been back to Martinique -several times, but he’s vanished.”</p> -<p>“Do you think Dietz had anything to do with it?”</p> -<p>“I’m sure of it, Biff. He either kidnapped Brom -Zook, and Brom got away, or he drove Brom into -hiding. It’s just got to be one or the other.”</p> -<p>“Dietz knew about this pearl fishery, too?” Biff -wanted to know.</p> -<p>“Lots of people know about it, Biff. Stories of a -fabulous pearl fishery have been circulating in these -parts for years and years. The stories come from the -Carib Indians. And every once in a while, a Carib -comes to the market with a priceless pearl.”</p> -<p>“But no one has ever located the fishery, is that it?”</p> -<p>“That’s right, Biff. Many have tried, Dietz among -them.”</p> -<p>“Where does Derek fit into the picture?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“I’m coming to that. Derek is motherless. He has -spent most of his life divided between living here in -Curaçao with his father and living with his grandparents -in Holland. When Brom Zook started on his -hunt for the pearl fishery, he sent Derek to The Netherlands -for his schooling. He knew that he wouldn’t -be in Curaçao much of the time, and he didn’t like to -leave Derek alone.”</p> -<p>“Why did Derek come back? Particularly since his -father is missing?” The picture was still somewhat -cloudy to Biff.</p> -<p>“I sent for him,” Uncle Charlie said.</p> -<p>“And you sent for me, too. Why both of us?”</p> -<p>“Because you look so much alike. You could easily -pass for twins.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_52">52</div> -<p>“I know,” Biff said. “In Miami and on the plane, we -were taken for twins.”</p> -<p>“I needed you here in the event Derek didn’t show -up in time.”</p> -<p>“In time for what, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>“To establish his right to the pearl fishery his -father has found.”</p> -<p>Biff frowned. “I’m afraid I still don’t get it.”</p> -<p>“It’s like this, Biff. The letter I received from Brom -Zook, over two weeks after I last saw him, contained -a claim to a certain water area, to be filed with the -French consulate here in Willemstad, establishing -Brom Zook as the discoverer of the fishery. I was to -file it for him. Along with the letter and the claim, -I received a small package. In it was one of the most -perfect black pearls I have ever seen.”</p> -<p>Biff’s eyes turned in the direction of Derek’s coat. -He was beginning to get an idea of what Uncle -Charlie had found in the box that had tumbled from -the jacket.</p> -<p>“This pearl was to be given the French consul -along with the claim. In the event Brom Zook didn’t -appear within the time limit, the person appearing for -him could establish his right by presenting a black -pearl that was the perfect match for the one I left -with the consulate.”</p> -<p>“And that person would be Derek?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Right you are, Biff.”</p> -<p>“How did Derek get hold of the pearl?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_53">53</div> -<p>“Apparently Brom Zook knew he was in danger, -from Dietz, I’m sure. Dietz would try to stop him -from appearing to establish his claim—the same way -claim jumpers used to operate in the early mining -days of the old West in the United States,” Uncle -Charlie explained.</p> -<p>“So he sent Derek the other pearl?”</p> -<p>“That’s right. He told me he had done so in his letter. -His instructions were that if he didn’t get in touch -with me in plenty of time before the ninety-day time -limit was to expire, then I was to cable Derek to come -at once to Curaçao.”</p> -<p>“Ninety-day time limit? I don’t understand,” Biff -said, his voice showing he was still puzzled.</p> -<p>“When a claim is filed, such as the one I filed for -Brom Zook, there’s a waiting period of ninety days -before the claim is granted. The law was designed to -prevent claim jumping. In those ninety days, if anyone -else can dispute the claim, then a hearing is held to -decide who discovered the find first.”</p> -<p>“So that if Brom Zook had jumped someone else’s -claim, the real discoverer could protest and prove he -made the discovery first,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“You’re right, Biff. But in this case, Brom made -the discovery. Dietz knows it. Dietz knows that he -wouldn’t stand a chance of claiming to have made the -discovery first.”</p> -<p>“Why not?”</p> -<p>“Because he doesn’t know exactly where it is.”</p> -<p>“Do you, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>“I have a pretty good idea, because I know more -precisely where Brom Zook was working than Dietz -does. You see, Biff, a claim to a water area covers a -<i>lot</i> of ocean. It isn’t like a land claim for mining. A -mining claim covers a specific spot. A water claim -can cover an area of hundreds of acres. I know the -island group that Brom was searching in, but only -Brom knows the exact spot where the pearl oysters -are located.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_54">54</div> -<p>“Then the pearl fishery itself,” Biff said, “could be -a very small area compared to the total area covered -by the claim?”</p> -<p>“Right you are, Biff.”</p> -<p>“Then Dietz hasn’t got a chance, has he?”</p> -<p>“Oh, yes. He thinks he has a good one.”</p> -<p>“I don’t see how.”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene grinned. “If neither Brom Zook nor -Derek appears at the French consulate to demand the -claim within the ninety days, anyone can file for the -rights. Dietz is just waiting to file in the same general -area where the Zook claim is located.”</p> -<p>Biff knew now what had happened.</p> -<p>“And Brom Zook is missing.”</p> -<p>“That’s it, Biff. If neither Brom Zook nor Derek -appears, then Dietz moves in, files his claim, and then -it would be most difficult for Brom Zook to reestablish -his rights.”</p> -<p>Biff nodded his head thoughtfully.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie, when does that ninety-day time -limit expire?”</p> -<p>“Tomorrow afternoon, Biff. At four o’clock.”</p> -<p>“What!” Biff exclaimed. “Then we’ve got to act -fast. We’ve got to find Derek!”</p> -<p>“Don’t worry, Biff, we’re still ahead of the game.”</p> -<p>“But Brom Zook will be robbed!”</p> -<p>“I don’t think so,” Uncle Charlie said, smiling as he -shook his head.</p> -<p>“What’s to prevent it?” Biff demanded.</p> -<p>“You, Biff. Couldn’t you play the role of Derek -Zook once more?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_55">55</div> -<h2 id="c9"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER IX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Outmatched</span></h2> -<p>Biff was taken aback by his uncle’s last statement.</p> -<p>“You mean if we don’t find Derek, you want me to -substitute for him?”</p> -<p>“That sums it up, Biff.”</p> -<p>Biff shook his head. He knew he looked like Derek. -But Uncle Charlie was really asking a lot.</p> -<p>“Gosh, Uncle Charlie. It’s one thing for me to substitute -for Derek when it’s only a joke. Like at the -airport. But to do this—this is for big stakes.”</p> -<p>“I know, Biff. But, considering the fact that you -will actually be doing this so the just rights of a man -will be established, I don’t think you would be doing -anything morally wrong.”</p> -<p>“No, I guess not. We would be stopping Dietz -from stealing what belongs to someone else.”</p> -<p>“That’s right, Biff.”</p> -<p>“Still—suppose I have to sign something? That -would be forgery. I couldn’t do that, Uncle Charlie.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_56">56</div> -<p>“I know you couldn’t, Biff. And I wouldn’t ask you -to. But I’ve looked into this affair as closely as I can. I -don’t think you’ll be required to sign anything. The -signing for the actual working permit to the claim will -take place in Martinique.”</p> -<p>“I sure hope you’re right.”</p> -<p>“I’m rather certain that I am, Biff. Otherwise there -wouldn’t have been much point in my having you -come down here in such a hurry.”</p> -<p>“And my being here gives you more time to find -Brom Zook.”</p> -<p>“Or Derek, now that he is here.”</p> -<p>“I wonder why he didn’t get here sooner,” Biff -pondered.</p> -<p>“You can bet that really had me worried. I waited -until just over three weeks ago before I cabled for -Derek to come here. That would be plenty of time, -now that the Atlantic can be crossed in hours instead -of days.”</p> -<p>“Didn’t you get a reply to your cable?”</p> -<p>“No. That didn’t worry me too much. I just figured -that Derek would know how serious things had -become. His father must have given him a clear picture -of the situation when he wrote him.”</p> -<p>“Why didn’t Derek come as soon as you cabled?”</p> -<p>“I got a cable about ten days after I sent for Derek. -It was from his grandfather. The cable informed me -that Derek was in the Swiss Alps for winter skiing. -The grandfather had tried and tried to locate him. It -seems Derek was off on a long cross-country ski race. -You know, where the winner is the one who covers -the most miles in a given number of days.”</p> -<p>“Be hard to locate someone on one of those jaunts, -all right,” Biff agreed.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_57">57</div> -<p>“So, being desperate, and not knowing if Derek -would get here before the time limit expired, I cabled -for you. And was I ever glad to see you come through -the door of the terminal!”</p> -<p>“But you actually had the real Derek.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie laughed. “That’s right. But from the -way things have gone, it’s a good thing I do have two -Dereks.”</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>The hands on the clock in the hearing room of the -French consulate showed fifteen minutes of four. -Seated in the first of the row of benches which lined -the room were Herman Dietz and Specks Cade. Dietz -wore a satisfied smile on his face. Things were going -fine. Just fine. Fifteen more minutes, and Brom Zook’s -claim would be worthless, voided by the expiration of -the ninety-day time limit.</p> -<p>Specks’s feelings were just the opposite of Dietz’s. -He was nervous. He kept shifting back and forth on -the bench, looking at the entrance, watching the clock.</p> -<p>Ten minutes of four.</p> -<p>The claims referee finished some business with the -only other person left in the room. He looked down -from his bench at Dietz.</p> -<p>“You have business with the Claims Division?”</p> -<p>“Yes, sir. I have a claim to file.”</p> -<p>“Then let’s have it. It grows late,” the referee said -impatiently.</p> -<p>“I will when it becomes four o’clock,” Dietz said. -“It would not be proper for me to file my claim when -there is still time for my friend Brom Zook to appear -to ask for his.”</p> -<p>The referee looked down at the paper in front of -him. He picked it up.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_58">58</div> -<p>“Oh, yes. Brom Zook. I have it here.” He glanced -at the clock.</p> -<p>Five minutes to four.</p> -<p>A dead silence came over the hearing room. Three -men kept their eyes on the clock. Even Dietz fidgeted -somewhat as the minute hand came nearer and nearer -to the hour hand. Only three minutes and he would -win.</p> -<p>The sound of feet striding briskly and firmly came -from the rear of the room. Dietz swung around. His -face went white. His heart pounded. It couldn’t be. It -was impossible! Derek Zook was a prisoner guarded -by Crunch. Crunch was a simple-minded soul, but a -powerful man. Derek Zook couldn’t have escaped!</p> -<p>Biff Brewster came striding down the aisle.</p> -<p>The referee looked up. “And what is the matter -concerning you that brings you before this Claims -Division?” he asked.</p> -<p>“The matter of the claim to a pearl fishery, made -by Brom Zook of Curaçao, sir,” Biff said.</p> -<p>The referee picked up some papers.</p> -<p>“You can establish your right to the claim?”</p> -<p>Biff nodded his head.</p> -<p>Charles Keene came down the aisle and stood by -his nephew.</p> -<p>“I see by a letter which accompanies this claim that -you must meet a certain requirement in order to establish -your right beyond any doubt.”</p> -<p>Biff cast a quick glance at his uncle. Charles Keene -said nothing. The clerk went on:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_59">59</div> -<p>“Brom Zook has accompanied his filing of a claim -asking to be granted the rights to fish for pearls in -certain waters off the Island of Martinique, with an -object which must be matched by any claimant other -than himself. Since I know you are not Brom Zook, -you must present this object to establish yourself as -the rightful claimant to the grant. You have it, young -man?”</p> -<p>Momentarily Biff panicked. Where had he put the -pearl? Then he felt his uncle nudge him. “Your inside -coat pocket, Biff,” Charles Keene whispered.</p> -<p>Biff’s hand shot into his coat pocket.</p> -<p>“The object referred to,” the referee went on, “is a -pearl. A black pearl that must match perfectly the one -I hold here.”</p> -<p>At these words, Dietz raised an eyebrow and -smirked. He was positive no such pearl existed. If it -did, Derek didn’t have it. He had searched Derek -carefully. No pearl had been found.</p> -<p>Biff’s hand touched the small box. He pulled it out -and stepped forward to the referee’s bench.</p> -<p>“Here, sir.” Biff said, holding the beautiful pearl in -the palm of his hand.</p> -<p>The referee took it. Biff couldn’t resist turning -around to see Dietz’s reaction. Dietz was grasping -Specks’s arm. He seemed about to faint. He swallowed -several times, shaking his head as if trying to -remove from his vision something he couldn’t believe -he was seeing.</p> -<p>The referee was examining the two pearls closely.</p> -<p>“Everything seems to be in order. There can be no -doubt that these are matching pearls. Beautiful ones, -too. My congratulations to you, young man, and to -your father. He has truly made a discovery of great -beauty and value.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_60">60</div> -<p>The referee placed the papers in a thick manila -envelope and handed them over to Biff. “And now, -seeing that no one else is here to present a claim, I declare -the Claims Division closed for the day,” he said.</p> -<p>Biff joined his uncle, and the two strode happily -toward the exit. At the door, they turned and looked -back. Dietz was slumped back against the bench. -Specks hovered over him like a nervous mother hen.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_61">61</div> -<h2 id="c10"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER X</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Plan of Action</span></h2> -<p>Two happier people couldn’t be found among the -gay crowds of tourists swarming the streets of Willemstad -than Biff Brewster and Charlie Keene. They -were standing at the bottom of the steps leading from -the French consulate.</p> -<p>“We pulled it off, Biff. We really outfoxed Dietz,” -Charlie said exultantly.</p> -<p>“We sure did. But I was kind of shaky in there for a -few moments. I mean when the referee asked about -the matching pearl.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie laughed. “You felt like the best man -at the wedding who forgot where he had put the ring, -eh?”</p> -<p>Biff and his uncle had spent all their time before appearing -at the Claims Division in looking for Derek. -They had gone to the Zook home, long closed since -Brom Zook had been in Martinique and Derek in Holland. -They thought the boy might have gone there to -hide.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_62">62</div> -<p>They had also inquired at a small boarding house -where Brom Zook had stayed on his infrequent trips to -Curaçao. No sign or word of Derek anywhere. They -had come to the conclusion that Dietz must be holding -the Dutch boy.</p> -<p>“Yep, Biff, we’ve established Brom Zook’s rights to -the claim, and we’ve got the matching pearls. Pretty -good day’s work, I’d say. Couldn’t have done it -without you, though. My compliments to you, Biff-Derek-Zook-Brewster.”</p> -<p>Biff laughed. “I’d like to get back to being just -Biff Brewster again. Impersonating Derek Zook gets -pretty rough at times.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie wasn’t listening. Biff had given him -the papers establishing the claim and the two pearls. -Uncle Charlie was examining the pearls.</p> -<p>“Real beauties, aren’t they? And valuable, too.”</p> -<p>“What do you think they’re worth, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>“Hmmm ... several thousand dollars at least. -They’d make a perfect pair of earrings for some exotic -movie star or Italian countess or a member of the -British nobility. Not worth a big fortune, but a considerable -one. A pearl collector would probably want -them at any price named.”</p> -<p>“And there’s plenty more where they came from,” -Biff suggested.</p> -<p>“You’re right, there are.”</p> -<p>Biff was quiet. His thoughts were now back on -Derek. True, he and his uncle had preserved Derek -and his father’s pearl fishery claim, but unless they -could find Derek and Brom Zook, what they had done -so far was valueless.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie, we’ve just got to find Derek now.”</p> -<p>Charles Keene frowned. “I know it, Biff.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_63">63</div> -<p>“We can’t let Dietz find out that it wasn’t Derek -who appeared before the claims referee. If he does, -he could upset our applecart but good.”</p> -<p>“Yes. And it still has to be the real Derek who signs -for the working permit in Martinique. Your impersonation -can’t go to the extreme of signing Derek’s -name.”</p> -<p>Biff glanced down the street. His eyes came to rest -on the sleek, black limousine which had brought Dietz -to the Claims Division. It was the same car in which -Biff had ridden from the airport to the hotel. Looking -at it gave Biff an idea.</p> -<p>“Look, Uncle Charlie. If Dietz did get Derek, he -must still be holding him. Right?”</p> -<p>His uncle nodded his head in agreement.</p> -<p>“Although he doesn’t know it, of course, since -he saw me in the Claims office, and thought I was -Derek—”</p> -<p>“Go on, Biff, I think I’m reading you louder and -your upcoming idea is getting clearer.”</p> -<p>“Thinking, as he must be, that Derek somehow -escaped, wouldn’t he let his guard down now? He -must figure the game is almost up.”</p> -<p>“Yes, that’s how I’d figure it myself,” Charlie replied. -“And how wrong I’d be!”</p> -<p>“Exactly. So, believing Derek must have escaped, -wouldn’t Dietz feel it no longer necessary to take any -precautions in returning to his hide-out?”</p> -<p>“I get you, Biff. Following him ought to be a cinch -now.”</p> -<p>“What are we waiting for then? Let’s get in your -car and wait for Dietz and Specks to come out.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_64">64</div> -<p>The two walked over to Charlie Keene’s small, -low-slung, two-seater sports car. They climbed in -and waited. Keene’s car was parked four cars removed -from the black limousine. The cars intervening -gave Biff and his uncle a good spot from which -to observe, without too much chance of being seen -themselves.</p> -<p>Five minutes passed before a dejected Dietz and his -pal Specks came out of the building. They got into the -limousine, Specks at the wheel, and pulled away. -Uncle Charlie started up his car and slipped into the -thick traffic behind. There was little chance of their -pursuing car being noticed by Dietz in the crowded -downtown streets.</p> -<p>As Dietz’s limousine reached the northern outskirts -of the city, traffic thinned. Charlie dropped back -half a block, still keeping the black car within easy -vision.</p> -<p>Once the city was left behind, Specks speeded up. -The limousine roared along the road. Charlie let it -pull away although he didn’t have to. His sports car -was much the faster of the two.</p> -<p>“Aren’t you afraid we’ll lose him, Uncle Charlie?” -Biff asked, worried.</p> -<p>“Not a chance, Biff. This road goes only one place. -The end of the island. No major turnoffs. If we -stick too close on his tail, he might spot us. I just want -to keep the car in sight.”</p> -<p>They remained a good half mile behind the black -car. Each time it rounded a curve and disappeared -from sight, Biff’s worries increased. But each time, as -his uncle rounded the same curve, Biff was relieved to -see the black car ahead. Charlie kept the same distance -between the cars.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_65">65</div> -<p>“Look, Uncle Charlie,” Biff cried out suddenly. -“He’s turning off.”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene nodded his head and tramped down -heavily on the accelerator. The sports car leaped -ahead. It roared down the road, rapidly closing the -gap to the spot the black car had turned off. As they -neared it, Charlie slowed. They came to a jagged -road, angling off to the right.</p> -<p>“That’s where they turned,” Biff said.</p> -<p>Charlie nodded his head, but kept on going.</p> -<p>“Aren’t you going to turn in?” Biff asked anxiously.</p> -<p>“Not right away. We’re too close behind them.”</p> -<p>Charlie continued on down the paved road for a -quarter of a mile, then U-turned and came back. He -cut to the left into the rough road they had just -passed, pulled up, and cut his motor.</p> -<p>Biff and Charlie got out. Charlie went ahead, inspecting -the road. It was composed of sand and -crushed shells.</p> -<p>“This is it, Biff. I’m positive. See those deep tracks? -Hasn’t been time for the sand to have shifted and run -back to fill them in. These roads with sand show -tracks much as a snow-covered road does.”</p> -<p>Biff was convinced. Not only by his uncle’s skill at -picking out fresh tracks, but because he hadn’t seen -any other road in that vicinity. It had to be the road -the black car had just turned down.</p> -<p>“Let’s figure our next move, Biff,” Charlie said. -The two got back into the sports car.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_66">66</div> -<p>“I think I know where we are. There used to be a -big estate somewhere around here. It’s been closed up -for some years. There’s one large house, a hacienda, -and several smaller outbuildings. An ideal place to -hide out, particularly if you wanted to hold someone -prisoner. Let’s put our plotting machine to work for a -few minutes.”</p> -<p>At first, Biff was all for barging right ahead, crashing -right in and demanding of Dietz the whereabouts -of Derek.</p> -<p>“Don’t think we’d better do that, Biff,” Uncle -Charlie said. “We don’t know how many cohorts -Dietz might have. He’s bound to have a servant or -two. Particularly since he had to have someone to -keep a sharp eye on Derek.”</p> -<p>“I see what you mean, Uncle Charlie. What’s your -plan of action?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“I’ll go up to the hacienda by myself. I can keep -Dietz plenty busy with questions and accusations for -a while. That will give you time to scout around the -outbuildings and search for Derek.”</p> -<p>“But won’t Dietz want to find out how Derek got -away?”</p> -<p>“Perhaps. But since Dietz thinks he is gone, what -good will it do him to worry about locking the gate -now that his prize has fled?”</p> -<p>Biff nodded his head. Then another thought came -to him.</p> -<p>“But won’t the guard who let Derek get away be -so worried and scared he’ll report to Dietz at once?” -Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Whoa, there, my boy. You’re beginning to think -like Dietz. Why should the guard be upset? He still -has Derek, hasn’t he?”</p> -<p>“I forgot, Uncle Charlie,” Biff said sheepishly.</p> -<p>“Okay, let’s move on.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_67">67</div> -<p>They drove for about two miles along the winding -sand-shell road until they came to the arched opening -in the pink-stone wall.</p> -<p>“This is where we part for a while,” Uncle Charlie -said. “I’ll drive on up to the hacienda. You wait until -you see me enter. Then make like a beagle and sniff -out the other buildings fast.” Charlie looked at his -watch. “I’ve got six-fifteen. How ’bout you?”</p> -<p>“The same.”</p> -<p>“Okay, Biff. We’ll rendezvous outside this gate at -exactly six forty-five. It will still be light by then. But -darkness comes fast. Night falls as fast as a theater -curtain in the tropics. One minute it’s daylight. The -next it’s dark. Dusk lasts about one minute. All set?”</p> -<p>“Right. And I hope you see double when we rendezvous.”</p> -<p>“See double?” Uncle Charlie was momentarily -puzzled.</p> -<p>“Derek <i>and</i> me,” Biff said, grinning.</p> -<p>“Oh. I get you. Guess I’d stopped thinking clearly -for a moment this time. Good luck, Biff.”</p> -<p>Charles Keene started the car and drove toward the -hacienda.</p> -<p>Biff waited until he saw him enter the building. -When the door closed behind his uncle, Biff, keeping -close to the wall, started out on his bird-dogging -expedition.</p> -<p>Fortunately for Biff, the grounds had been landscaped. -Palm trees, low palmetto bushes, and flower -gardens, now filled with rank, weedy growth, gave -him plenty of cover to scout around.</p> -<p>The first two buildings he inspected were empty. -A third, smaller building, well removed from the -main house, looked like the next likely place. As Biff -approached it, he noticed that the windows of the -building were barred.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_68">68</div> -<div class="img" id="pic3"> -<img src="images/p05.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="1148" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Biff noticed that the windows of the building were barred</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_69">69</div> -<p>Biff crept silently up to the building. He pressed -close to the wall of the stone house and worked his -way around to its rear. Cautiously he raised his head -until his eyes were at the level of the window. He -looked into the room.</p> -<p>Once more he was looking at himself in a mirror. -This time Derek’s expression was even more startled -than when the two boys had first met at the Miami -airport.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_70">70</div> -<h2 id="c11"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Biff Meets Crunch</span></h2> -<p>Biff quickly pressed a forefinger against his lips. If -Derek, startled as he was, made an outcry, any chance -of freeing him would be gone.</p> -<p>Derek was seated on the edge of a small cot. The -only other furniture in the room was a straight chair. -Biff could see through a narrow opening into the second -of the two rooms which made up the small stone -house. The entrance to this house-prison must be in -the other room, Biff figured.</p> -<p>Derek arose and came quietly to the window.</p> -<p>“Biff! You found me!” Derek sounded as if he -couldn’t believe his eyes.</p> -<p>“And I’ve got to get you out of here. Fast,” Biff -whispered.</p> -<p>“But tell me, Biff, what has happened? I’m all confused. -I have to know—”</p> -<p>“No time now,” Biff replied. “If I can’t get you out -of here right away, you’ll be in real trouble. Are you -alone here, or are you being guarded?”</p> -<p>“There’s a guard right in the other room,” Derek -whispered back.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_71">71</div> -<p>Biff’s face fell. He had expected Derek to be under -guard, but he’d hoped the guard wouldn’t be so close -by.</p> -<p>“No way of slipping past him, I suppose?” Biff said.</p> -<p>“I would have little or no chance. The guard is a -giant.”</p> -<p>“Have you been treated all right?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Oh, yes. The guard, while big enough to crush me -with his bare hands, is really quite a simple soul. He’s -friendly too, as long as I don’t try anything,” Derek -went on.</p> -<p>“And he stays here all the time? Never leaves you -alone?” Biff pressed his questions hurriedly. There -wasn’t much time before he was to rejoin his uncle.</p> -<p>“No, Biff. He goes to the main house for my meals -and his.” Derek looked at his watch. “He’ll be going -any minute now. At six-thirty.”</p> -<p>“How can you be sure he’ll go at six-thirty?”</p> -<p>Derek grinned. “It would be funny if I weren’t a -prisoner. My guard—his name is Crunch—can’t read. -Can’t even tell time. He has me set an alarm clock for -when it’s time for him to go get our food. When the -alarm goes off, we eat.”</p> -<p>“And you set it for six-thirty.” Biff said this half -aloud. His thoughts were racing as a plan was shaping -up in his mind.</p> -<p>“Listen closely, Derek.”</p> -<p>The Dutch boy grasped the iron bars of the window -in his hands and pulled himself nearer to Biff. -Their heads were only inches apart.</p> -<p>“Do you remember an arched gateway leading into -this place?”</p> -<p>“Yes. I remember it.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_72">72</div> -<p>“I’m to meet my Uncle Charlie there at six forty-five. -He’s up at the hacienda, stalling Dietz. Here’s my -plan. It ought to work, too, if Crunch is as simple-minded -as you say he is.” Biff’s voice was a low, rapid -whisper.</p> -<p>“Think it will work, Derek?” he finished.</p> -<p>“It should. I just hope you don’t get hurt.”</p> -<p>“Don’t you worry about me. You just make for -that gate as fast as you can if you get out. Wait for my -uncle. If I’m not there by the time you two meet, -both of you go on ahead. Forget about me.”</p> -<p>Derek’s frown showed that he didn’t like the possibility -that Biff might get caught. His “But Biff—” -was cut short by the sharp ringing of an alarm clock -bell.</p> -<p>Biff pulled quickly away from the window. He -moved quietly but speedily until he stood concealed -just behind the front wall of the small building. He -poked his head around the corner, saw the doorway -only six feet away, then drew back.</p> -<p>Moments passed. Biff heard the sound of a key grating -in a lock. Again he poked his head cautiously -around the corner of the building. He saw the door -swing outward. Next he saw the guard come out. -Biff gasped. Never had he seen a man of such tremendous -size. Derek was right. This man was a giant! Big -powerful shoulders topped a strong, barrel-shaped -torso. His large head, thatched with shaggy hair, was -out-size even on so massive a body. Biff shuddered -to think what his fate might be if Crunch ever got -his hands on him. And that was just what might happen. -Biff was going to deliberately try to get Crunch -to attack him.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_73">73</div> -<p>Crunch swung the door closed. He started to put -the key back in the lock. Biff acted.</p> -<p>“No use locking the door, Crunch,” he said, hoping -the big man would not notice he was not dressed like -Derek. “I’m out here.”</p> -<p>Crunch, startled, turned in Biff’s direction. He -stared with his mouth agape like a child seeing something -for the first time; seeing something that just -couldn’t be.</p> -<p>“Yes, Crunch, I got out the back window,” Biff -said.</p> -<p>Crunch turned bewilderedly to look through the -door, as if expecting to see Biff in the act of escaping. -He turned his head back to Biff. Biff took a step back. -He cringed, pretending to be frightened. Actually, he -didn’t have to pretend too much. The size of the man -alone was enough to frighten anyone.</p> -<p>Crunch was still confused. He took a step toward -Biff, then looked back at the unlocked door. He made -a motion as if he were going to lock it.</p> -<p>Biff withdrew another few feet. He wanted the big -man to chase him. It took Crunch a little time to figure -out the situation. Then, as he saw Biff move farther -away from him, he made up his mind. He lunged toward -Biff. Biff turned and ran.</p> -<p>The plan was working out fine. Derek would have -plenty of time and opportunity to get out of his jail -and head for the gateway.</p> -<p>Everything was fine with one exception. Suppose -Crunch overtook Biff? The boy could almost feel -the massive arms of the giant closing around him. -Crunch’s grasp would be as powerful as that of a boa -constrictor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_74">74</div> -<p>Running in the mixture of sand and shell was difficult. -Biff felt he was making no progress. It was like -racing on a treadmill. Running was even harder for -the giant. His long strides, his great weight forced his -feet deep into the soft under-footing, slowing him -more than it did Biff.</p> -<p>Biff had headed directly away from the big house -and Derek’s recent prison. He wanted to draw -Crunch as far away as possible.</p> -<p>Biff could still hear the big man pounding after -him. The distance between them was widening. Biff -halted, took refuge behind a thick palmetto bush and -waited. He could hear Crunch coming on. As he came -nearer, the big man’s breathing was loud. He was -gasping for breath. The sand was his real enemy. It -held him back, sapped him of his great strength.</p> -<p>Crunch passed within a few feet of where Biff was -hiding. He continued at a staggering run. When Biff -felt he was a hundred or more feet away, he crept out -from beneath his sheltering bush and struck out for -the gateway.</p> -<p>Biff glanced at his watch. It was already six forty-five. -Had Derek made it? Had Uncle Charlie been -able to get away without Dietz’s watching him? If he -had, then he and Derek already would have met.</p> -<p>Suddenly it began to grow darker. Biff welcomed -the quick nightfall. It gave him more cover. When he -reached the gate, he welcomed the darkness even -more.</p> -<p>Derek and Uncle Charlie were gone.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_75">75</div> -<h2 id="c12"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Double Chance</span></h2> -<p>The sudden nightfall, the quick spread of darkness, -was most fortunate for Biff. He selected a secluded -spot not far from the arched gateway and holed in to -catch his breath and figure out his next move.</p> -<p>Biff was very well pleased with the way he had -tricked the giant Crunch. Derek had escaped. He -must have met Uncle Charlie. The problem now was—how -was Biff going to rejoin them?</p> -<p>As he sat on the warm sand, wondering if he should -start the long walk back to Willemstad, he heard -shouts and angry voices coming from the main house.</p> -<p>A knife of light cut into the darkness as the door -opened. Out at a run came Dietz, Specks, and Crunch.</p> -<p>“Get the car, Specks,” Dietz’s order rang out. -“Crunch and I will search the grounds. Meet us at the -gate.”</p> -<p>Biff’s first idea at hearing the words was to move -out fast, put as much distance as possible between him -and the main house and the searchers.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_76">76</div> -<p>Then a second idea came to him. It was a daring -idea. It was a dangerous one. He decided to wait and -see if he could put his plan into effect.</p> -<p>Two sweeping streaks of light told Biff that Specks -was on his way to the gate in the car. It pulled up and -stopped just outside the gate, not more than ten feet -from Biff’s place of concealment.</p> -<p>Biff could hear Dietz and Crunch thrashing about -in the underbrush.</p> -<p>“All right, Crunch,” Biff heard Dietz shout. -“They’re not here. Come on to the gate.”</p> -<p>Moments later Biff saw Dietz join Specks by the -front of the car. They stood in the glare of its headlights.</p> -<p>“That stupid fool!” Dietz said angrily. “I don’t -know whether to believe him or not. Do you think he -was seeing things?”</p> -<p>“Look, boss, Crunch is stupid. He’s <i>too</i> stupid to -dream up a story like that.”</p> -<p>“Maybe you’re right. But why would that Zook -kid come back here after he had escaped?”</p> -<p>“You got me, boss. Unless he hid something there -and came back for it.”</p> -<p>“What? What would he have left when he got -away? It just doesn’t make any sense.”</p> -<p>Biff smiled at Dietz’s confusion. “It sure doesn’t -make sense—to you, Mr. Dietz,” he said to himself.</p> -<p>“And I don’t get Keene’s coming out here,” Dietz -went on. “He certainly doesn’t think I’d tell him -where Brom Zook is. He’s not that dumb.”</p> -<p>“Yeah—you wouldn’t tell him even if you knew,” -Specks replied.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_77">77</div> -<p>That was a piece of information valuable to Biff. -Now he knew for certain that Dietz didn’t know -where Derek’s father was. Nobody seemed to know.</p> -<p>“Mighty tough on Derek,” Biff said to himself.</p> -<p>The giant Crunch came up.</p> -<p>“Get in, you big lug,” Dietz commanded. “In the -front, stupid, with Specks.” There was anger in Dietz’s -voice. But no fear. Biff wondered why the giant -Carib Indian stood such verbal abuse. He could tear -Dietz apart.</p> -<p>Dietz climbed in, and Specks put the car in gear. It -started off slowly. Biff went into action. Doubled up, -running low, he overtook the car, hopped onto the -rear bumper, and grasped the trunk handle. This was -a dangerous thing to do. Biff realized it. But what better -chance did he have of getting away, and getting -away fast?</p> -<p>Biff appreciated the humor of the situation, too. -Here was Dietz out looking for him, and all the time -only the length of the limousine’s trunk lid separated -the two.</p> -<p>“My enemy is giving me a lift to town,” Biff -chuckled. “Darned nice of him.”</p> -<p>Biff had to hold on tight as the car gained speed. It -lurched and careened around the sharp turns of the -curving road. By the time Specks reached the paved -highway, Biff had had enough. He knew he couldn’t -be hurt too much if he were thrown off the car on the -sand road. But if he fell off on a paved highway with -the car going at high speed, he could be seriously injured.</p> -<p>He also realized that a following car would spot -him easily, hanging onto the trunk.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_78">78</div> -<p>As Specks slowed to turn onto the main highway, -Biff dropped off the car and skipped over to the side -of the road. The limousine headed for Willemstad.</p> -<p>“Now what?” Biff asked himself. “Do they pick up -hitchhikers in Curaçao?” He walked out to the main -road. He was just in time to see the taillights of the -limousine disappear as the car rounded a curve.</p> -<p>Biff was startled by the sound of another car starting, -just a short distance up the road in the opposite -direction from Willemstad. The car’s lights came on. -It headed toward Biff. Biff stepped back into the -darkness. The car came at the dirt road gaining speed. -Its tires screeched as the driver cut sharply off the -paved road onto the dirt one.</p> -<p>Biff recognized the car.</p> -<p>“Hey! Uncle Charlie!” Biff shouted at the top of -his voice as the sports car shot passed him. At first, -Biff didn’t think his shout had been heard over the -sound of the car’s engine. Then the car braked -sharply. Biff ran up to it.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene hopped out.</p> -<p>“You’re okay, Biff? Crunch didn’t get you?”</p> -<p>“See for yourself, Uncle Charlie. I got away all -right.”</p> -<p>Derek joined them.</p> -<p>“A million thanks to you, Biff. And a million more -pardons for my ever having suspected you or your -uncle.”</p> -<p>“Forget it, Derek. I don’t blame you for being suspicious. -How could you help it when I even had your -pearl?”</p> -<p>“Well, Biff, to be truthful, I did think for a while -that maybe the real reason you wanted me to impersonate -you at the airport was so you could get my -coat.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_79">79</div> -<p>“That’s one joke I won’t be trying again for a long, -long time.”</p> -<p>“It turned out for the good, though, didn’t it?” -Derek replied. “Dietz still doesn’t know there are two -of us. Either two Dereks or two Biffs.”</p> -<p>The boys laughed.</p> -<p>“How’d you know I’d be here?” Biff asked his -uncle.</p> -<p>“I didn’t, Biff. I was afraid Crunch might have -caught you. So was Derek. I was pretty sure that -Dietz would head back for Willemstad as soon as I -left.”</p> -<p>“What made you so sure?”</p> -<p>“I told Dietz that I’d left Derek there. If Dietz can -prevent Derek from getting to Martinique, he still has -a chance to jump the Zook claim.”</p> -<p>“Because I have to sign the permit for the working -permit, Biff,” Derek said.</p> -<p>Biff was thinking fast. Another plan was developing -in his mind.</p> -<p>“Look, Uncle Charlie,” he said, “If you and Derek -could get to Martinique without Dietz, it would be a -good break, wouldn’t it?”</p> -<p>“The best ever, Biff. What’ve you got in mind?”</p> -<p>“Suppose I take Derek’s place again.”</p> -<p>“You can’t, Biff. You can’t sign those papers. That -would be forgery,” Charles Keene reminded him.</p> -<p>“Oh, I don’t mean that I’d go to Martinique,” Biff -said.</p> -<p>“What are you getting at?” Uncle Charlie demanded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_80">80</div> -<p>“Suppose I go back to the hacienda? When Dietz -and Company return, Dietz will think he still has -Derek under his thumb, and that would give you and -Derek plenty of time to get set up in Martinique.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie didn’t reply at once. He was considering -Biff’s daring plan.</p> -<p>“Don’t like it, Biff. It would work out well for -us, sure. But you might get hurt. I’m thinking of -Crunch.”</p> -<p>“Oh, come on now, Uncle Charlie. I’ve been in -tighter spots than the one I’ve described.” Biff spoke -boldly, confidently. His inner feelings didn’t match -his spoken optimism. “Derek tells me Crunch is really -a gentle person.”</p> -<p>“Except when he’s aroused,” Derek cut in. “He -didn’t harm me. Not once. But one time when I tried -to follow him when he went for our meals, he picked -me up and threw me on the cot as if I were a small -puppy.”</p> -<p>“Believe me, Uncle Charlie, I have no intention of -antagonizing Crunch,” Biff assured him. “And I’ll -think up some reason for being there.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie rubbed his jaw. “Well, Biff, I still -don’t like the idea at all. But it surely would give us -the time we need. We’ve got to get the working permit. -And I’ve got to fuel my seaplane.”</p> -<p>“You’re weakening, aren’t you, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>“I guess I am, Biff. I’ll come back for you in a couple -of days. Dietz will free you once I convince him -you aren’t the real Derek Zook.”</p> -<p>“Good. We’ll do it then. But before I go back to -the hacienda and surrender myself, I could use some -<span class="sc">FOOD</span>! How about you, Derek? Hungry? You missed -your nightly feed.”</p> -<p>“I’m with you, Biff.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_81">81</div> -<p>“I know an eating place not too far from here,” -Uncle Charlie said. “Let’s go. Dietz won’t be back for -a couple of hours anyway.”</p> -<p>An hour and a half later, Uncle Charlie and Derek -dropped Biff off at the sand-shell road leading to the -hacienda.</p> -<p>“Lots of luck, Biff,” Uncle Charlie said, placing an -affectionate hand on his nephew’s shoulder.</p> -<p>“My best wishes go with you, too, Biff,” Derek -said, holding out his hand. “And my thanks for all you -have done and are going to do.”</p> -<p>Biff watched the sports car head toward Curaçao. -Then he turned and walked down the starlit road. He -didn’t feel quite so brave with his uncle and Derek -gone. He couldn’t know how Dietz would react -when he discovered “Derek” had again walked right -back into the trap. Biff did think that he had a good -story as his explanation for returning. It was a story -he felt sure would prevent Dietz from harming him.</p> -<p>Once again, Biff’s plan was going to backfire.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_82">82</div> -<h2 id="c13"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Turnabout</span></h2> -<p>Biff walked along the lonely, winding road, alert, -ears tuned for any sound, and admitting frankly to -himself that his nerves were on edge. It was nearly -eleven o’clock by the time he reached the gate. The -only light at the house was the single, bare bulb -illuminating the front porch.</p> -<p>Was Dietz back? Had they all gone to bed? Biff -didn’t think so. He slipped through the gate. Keeping -in the shadows as much as possible, he went up to -the house. He couldn’t hear a sound from within. -He moved around to the rear, peeking through every -window he passed. Nothing stirred. The silence was -creepy. Biff felt he would welcome even Dietz. Now -that he had decided on this course, he wanted to get -started. He wanted to see Dietz’s reaction when -“Derek” delivered himself into the hands of his enemy.</p> -<p>The sound of a car came to Biff’s ears from a -distance. He ran swiftly back to the gateway, and -scurried into the hiding place in which he had concealed -himself before.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_83">83</div> -<p>Just in time, too. The black limousine came up the -road, passed through the gate, and drew up in front -of the porch. Dietz got out. Crunch got out. Biff -could see Dietz speak to Crunch. The big Indian -bowed his head and walked off in the direction of the -small house where Biff had first seen him.</p> -<p>“Good,” Biff said half aloud. “At least, I won’t -have to worry about Crunch being present when I -go up there.”</p> -<p>He waited a few minutes more. Specks returned -from parking the car, joined Dietz, who had waited -on the porch, and the two men entered the house. -The porch light went off. Lights inside the house -came on.</p> -<p>“Well, it’s now or never. This is it, Biff Brewster. -Get hold of yourself and start moving.”</p> -<p>Biff crossed the yard again and mounted the steps -leading to the porch. His heart was pounding. He -swallowed, but the lump in his throat stayed where -it was. Biff’s knuckles rapped on the door. He stepped -back. He heard footsteps approaching. The door -opened. It was Specks.</p> -<p>Specks’ mouth dropped open in amazement. His -face went pale. The red blotches on his cheeks became -even redder against the whiteness of his skin.</p> -<p>“Who is it, Specks?” Biff heard Dietz call.</p> -<p>Specks didn’t answer. He was speechless.</p> -<p>“Who’s there?” Dietz called again. “What is it? -Specks!” he snapped. “What’s happened to you?”</p> -<p>Biff stepped forward.</p> -<p>“May I come in?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_84">84</div> -<p>As he stepped inside the house, Specks took a step -backward. He must have thought he was seeing a -ghost. Just then Dietz came into the hallway. He took -one look at Biff, and the glass he was holding in one -hand dropped to the floor.</p> -<p>“Zook! Derek Zook!”</p> -<p>Dietz was as astonished as Specks. But being -quicker-witted than his partner, Dietz got over his -amazement faster.</p> -<p>“It’s Zook. Grab him, Specks!”</p> -<p>“That won’t be necessary, Mr. Dietz,” Biff said -boldly. “I have come here on my own.”</p> -<p>Still not believing what he saw or heard, Dietz -came up to Biff. He placed a hand on Biff’s arm, as -though trying to assure himself that the boy was -real.</p> -<p>Biff brushed past the two men and walked down -the hallway to a door which led into a living room. -He walked in, picked out a comfortable chair, and -sat down in it as calmly as if he were in his own -home in Indianapolis.</p> -<p>Still somewhat dazed, Dietz entered the room and -stared at Biff. Specks stood in the doorway, shaking -his head.</p> -<p>Dietz recovered his poise.</p> -<p>“What are you doing here? Why have you come -back?” he demanded.</p> -<p>“This is going to be fun,” Biff thought. “Didn’t -know I was going to knock them for this much of a -loop.” Aloud, he said:</p> -<p>“I haven’t been away.”</p> -<p>“You mean—you mean all the time we were in -Willemstad looking for you, you were right here!”</p> -<p>“Most of the time,” Biff answered truthfully.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_85">85</div> -<p>“Go get Crunch,” Dietz ordered Specks. A gleam -had come into his eyes. He was getting ready to take -over.</p> -<p>“Now you tell me why you have come back here,” -Dietz said to Biff, and walked over to the chair where -Biff was sitting.</p> -<p>“I want information,” Biff said. “I want to know -where my father is.”</p> -<p>“Oh, you do. And you think I’ll tell you just for -the asking.” Dietz’s laugh was more of a sneer.</p> -<p>“We may be able to make a bargain,” Biff said.</p> -<p>Dietz leaned forward. A hungry look spread over -his face.</p> -<p>“You mean if I tell you where your father is—” he -began.</p> -<p>“I might persuade him to cut you in on the pearl -fishery. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”</p> -<p>Dietz didn’t reply. He walked across the room and -stood by a long, low table. His hand went to his head. -He rubbed his scalp. His long silence worried Biff. It -was obvious that some scheme was forming in Dietz’s -mind. He came back to Biff.</p> -<p>“I’ll tell you where your father is if you’ll tell me -the exact location of the pearl fishery.” Dietz poked -his crafty face close to Biff’s.</p> -<p>Biff could hardly suppress a smile. He knew that -neither one of them could give the other the information -asked for. Biff didn’t know where the pearl -fishery was. He also knew that Dietz didn’t know -where Brom Zook was. This was going to be a cat-and-mouse -game. Biff just hoped it could be played -long enough for his uncle and Derek to get things -firmed up in Martinique.</p> -<p>“Can you take me to my father?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_86">86</div> -<p>“Not until you give me the information I want,” -Dietz replied.</p> -<p>“Is he here in Curaçao, or in Martinique?” Biff asked -this question to stall for more time. He knew Dietz -couldn’t give him an honest answer.</p> -<p>Before Dietz could reply, Specks returned. The -giant Crunch was behind him.</p> -<p>“Now, young man, you’ll find out just what a fool -you were not to stay away from here once you -had made your escape,” Dietz declared.</p> -<p>The tide was running against Biff. There was a -look of triumph on Dietz’s evil face.</p> -<p>“I came here with a fair proposition for you,” Biff -said.</p> -<p>“Fair? Never heard the word,” Dietz replied, his -voice scornful. “You’ve walked and talked yourself -right into being my prisoner again. And this time, -Crunch will make sure you don’t escape.”</p> -<p>Biff looked at the powerful Crunch. There was a -big, silly smile on his face. He clenched and unclenched -his hands, as if he could hardly wait to get -Biff in his grip.</p> -<p>“You young fool,” Dietz said. “Don’t you know -you and Keene can’t get the working permit to that -fishery unless you sign for it?”</p> -<p>“But neither can you.”</p> -<p>“Ha! That’s what you think. It so happens, you -stupid boy, that I have a friend in the Fisheries Commission -on Martinique. You and Keene may have -stopped me once. But you won’t again. Crunch, take -him away. And this time, if you let him escape—” -Dietz drew the edge of his hand across his throat “—that’s -what you’ll get.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_87">87</div> -<p>Crunch crossed to Biff’s chair. He seized Biff by -one arm and lifted him out of the chair as if he -weighed no more than a rag doll.</p> -<p>Biff knew it would be foolish to resist. His plan -had backfired.</p> -<p>Why, he thought, with a sinking feeling, hadn’t -he or Uncle Charlie realized that Dietz, thinking Biff -to be Derek, would hold him, and make for Martinique -as fast as he could? Biff realized now that, -far from delaying Dietz’s trip to Martinique, he had -afforded him the chance to go there sooner.</p> -<p>He knew this all too well as Crunch forced him -down the hallway toward the door. He heard Dietz -say to Specks:</p> -<p>“We leave for Martinique in the morning.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_88">88</div> -<h2 id="c14"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XIV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A Talk with Crunch</span></h2> -<p>Although Biff’s strategy had backfired, it did -give his uncle a slight jump on Dietz.</p> -<p>Just after daybreak, Charlie Keene and Derek were -at the waterport where Keene kept his seaplane. He -warmed up the plane’s twin engines. He pointed the -plane’s nose into the wind, and the aircraft streaked -across mirror-flat water. The seal between plane’s -hull and the sea was broken, and the plane was airborne.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene put the plane on a course direct for -Martinique, a little over five hundred miles away. If -all went well, they would land at Fort-de-France in -under three hours. That would get them there in -time for the opening of the office of the Fisheries -Commission.</p> -<p>Dietz wouldn’t be able to leave until the commercial -flight at 9 <span class="sc">A.M.</span> He wouldn’t get to Martinique -until noon.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_89">89</div> -<p>“I hope Biff’s all right,” Derek said to Biff’s uncle. -The plane was high over the sparkling waters of the -Caribbean Sea. The island of Curaçao was only a -small dot in the sea behind them. Directly below, -they saw a slender, cigar-shaped cruise ship heading -for the port Charlie Keene and Derek had just left.</p> -<p>“Biff’s been in plenty of tough spots, Derek. I’ve -been in some of them with him. I’d never have let -him take that chance if I didn’t think he could handle -it. Still—I won’t have any peace of mind until we’re -all together again.”</p> -<p>“That will be good, Mr. Keene. It seems I only see -Biff for a few minutes, then we’re separated again. -I like Biff. I want to know him better.”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie smiled. It pleased him that his -nephew and Derek had become friends.</p> -<p>“You will, Derek. And you’re right. Biff’s as fine -a fellow as you’ll ever know. You two ought to have -a great time, skin diving for pearls. You ever do any -skin diving?”</p> -<p>“Some. In the Mediterranean. I went there with my -grandparents last summer. Biff’s done a lot of skin -diving, I’ll wager.”</p> -<p>“He sure has, Derek. In Hawaii and off the coast -of Southern California. His family has a cottage -on a lake out there. The whole family goes in for -the sport.”</p> -<p>A little after eight-thirty, the island of Martinique -came into view.</p> -<p>“Another ten minutes and we’ll be there,” Charlie -said. He put the plane into a long, gentle descent. -They came in low over Fort-de-France, circled the -city, then came back to set down in the harbor.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_90">90</div> -<p>At about the same time Charles Keene was setting -the seaplane down, Crunch was setting Biff’s breakfast -before him. While Crunch had been at the big -house to pick up the food, Biff had inspected his -prison carefully. It didn’t take him long to determine -that escape was out of the question. The iron bars on -the windows were three-quarters of an inch thick -and deeply imbedded in the concrete. Biff tested each -bar, just in case there might be a loose one.</p> -<p>“Not a chance,” Biff thought. “I’m here until someone -comes for me. Unless—unless I can outfox Crunch -again.”</p> -<p>Now, Biff and Crunch ate their breakfasts in silence. -When they had finished, Biff tried to draw the giant -out. His first questions were met with grunted replies.</p> -<p>“You know, Crunch,” Biff tried again, “I’ve been -all over the world, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a -man as big and strong as you are.”</p> -<p>A pleased smile came over the Indian’s face. He still -didn’t say anything.</p> -<p>“In China, I knew a man called Muscles. I thought -he was strong. But you could handle him easily.”</p> -<p>The pleased smile on Crunch’s simple face grew -broader.</p> -<p>“I suppose your boss Dietz has already gone?” Biff -shot the question in while Crunch was still enjoying -the flattery.</p> -<p>Crunch froze. The pleased expression left his face.</p> -<p>“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. -I know he’s gone. I heard the car leave early this -morning.”</p> -<p>“You hear car leave, you know boss gone. Why -you ask?” Crunch demanded.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_91">91</div> -<p>“Just something to talk about, Crunch,” Biff said -casually. “We’re going to get mighty tired of one -another just sitting here in silence.”</p> -<p>The Indian didn’t reply.</p> -<p>“You know, Crunch, I think I could get to like you. -You don’t look like a bad man to me.”</p> -<p>“Crunch good man,” the Indian said.</p> -<p>“Then why do you work for Dietz?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>No reply.</p> -<p>“Oh, you don’t have to tell me. But I know we -could be friends. I’m not going to try to get away -from you.”</p> -<p>“You do one time. Make fool out of Crunch. Boss -Dietz very mad at Crunch.”</p> -<p>“You’re not going to believe this, Crunch, but I -never did escape from you. Honestly.”</p> -<p>“Now you make joke with Crunch. You get away. -Last night. Before sky get dark.”</p> -<p>“How could I, Crunch?” Biff asked. “Have you -looked around the windows? The bars are still all in -them, aren’t they?”</p> -<p>“Crunch look good. Bars all there. You get out by -magic.”</p> -<p>Biff laughed. “Well, I must admit, I did use a trick.”</p> -<p>“See. Crunch know. You get out by magic.”</p> -<p>“If I got out by magic once, why couldn’t I do it -again? Like right now.”</p> -<p>Biff stood up. Crunch leaped to his feet and -grabbed Biff by the arm.</p> -<p>“You go, Crunch go with you,” he declared.</p> -<p>“That’s too much of a trick for me,” Biff said, -laughing. “Even if you do think I’m magic.”</p> -<p>Crunch released his grasp. Biff sat down, rubbing -his arm where the giant had grabbed it.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_92">92</div> -<p>“Do you like Dietz, Crunch? Do you like working -for him?”</p> -<p>Crunch frowned. He looked like a big, bad boy -forced to do something he didn’t want to do.</p> -<p>“I’d say you don’t,” Biff went on. “I can’t believe -a man like you would work for a bad man like Dietz -if you didn’t have to.”</p> -<p>“Have to,” Crunch said. His hand flew to his mouth, -as if he were trying to force back the words he had -just spoken.</p> -<p>“I thought so, Crunch,” Biff said. He was winning -this man over. Biff felt a definite sympathy for -Crunch. “Why do you work for him?”</p> -<p>Crunch was silent for a minute. When he finally -spoke, there was a surprising bitterness in his voice.</p> -<p>“Crunch have brother. Little brother. He do bad -thing one time. Have to leave Curaçao. He go to -Martinique. Lots of Carib Indians still in Martinique.”</p> -<p>Crunch stopped speaking. This was the longest statement -he had made. It seemed to pain him to talk so -much.</p> -<p>“Go on, Crunch,” Biff said gently.</p> -<p>“In Martinique, brother work for boss Dietz. He -tell boss Dietz what he do. He hope to come back to -Curaçao. Boss Dietz say he help.” Crunch paused -again.</p> -<p>“And he didn’t?”</p> -<p>“No. He come to Crunch. Say if Crunch don’t -work for him, do everything he say, he tell police. If -police catch little brother, him go way to jailhouse -for long time.”</p> -<p>“So that’s why you work for Dietz?”</p> -<p>Crunch nodded his head.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_93">93</div> -<p>“Crunch go back to house now. You stay here. No -use magic to get out of jail.”</p> -<p>“I promise, Crunch,” Biff said. “I promise not to -use magic.”</p> -<p>Biff felt so sorry for the giant at that moment, he -wouldn’t have walked out on him had Crunch left -the door wide open.</p> -<p>Crunch didn’t, however. He made sure the door -was locked.</p> -<p>In Martinique, Charlie Keene and Derek were coming -out of the Fisheries Commissioner’s office. They -had the papers. The working permit had been signed, -and it was now tucked in Derek’s inside coat pocket.</p> -<p>“I never heard so many questions, Mr. Keene,” -Derek said. “That man asked the same ones over and -over again.”</p> -<p>“He was stalling, Derek. He didn’t want to give us -that permit,” Biff’s uncle said.</p> -<p>“Why?”</p> -<p>“I don’t trust that clerk. I have a feeling he may be -dealing with Dietz. Just how, I haven’t figured out -yet. But I’ll bet Dietz promised to cut him in if he -could hold up giving us the papers.”</p> -<p>“Well, he did give them to us,” Derek remarked.</p> -<p>“After a struggle. Come on, Derek, let’s get back to -the plane and hop over to La Trinité.”</p> -<p>“That’s where my father had his headquarters, isn’t -it?”</p> -<p>“Yes. That’s where I last saw him, and that was the -postmark on the letters and the packaged pearls he -sent us.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_94">94</div> -<p>Charlie and Derek took a battered taxi driven by a -barefoot native back to the airport. The water basin -where Charlie’s plane was tied up to a long ramp adjoined -the airport.</p> -<p>They got there just about noon. They saw a -commercial plane come in for a landing.</p> -<p>“That’s the plane from Curaçao, Derek.”</p> -<p>They watched the plane taxi in. They had to pass -right by it on the way to the seaplane. The door of -the plane opened as they went by. Passengers began -deplaning. Derek looked back at them. He grabbed -Biff’s uncle by the arm. Charles Keene swung around -in time to see Dietz and Specks come down the unloading -stairs.</p> -<p>“Come on, don’t let them see us.” Keene took Derek -by the arm and hustled him away.</p> -<p>“This calls for a change in plans,” Biff’s uncle said. -“Something must have gone wrong. I’m really worried -about Biff now. I’ll fly you over to La Trinité, -then get back to Curaçao. You’d better lie low. Dietz -will be heading for La Trinité as soon as he learns -we’ve beat him to the punch again.”</p> -<p>“When will you come back?” Derek asked.</p> -<p>“As soon as I can. As soon as I can free Biff. Don’t -let Dietz get his hands on you while I’m gone.”</p> -<p>“I won’t,” Derek declared. “I’m going to spend -the time, until you and Biff return, looking for my -father.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_95">95</div> -<h2 id="c15"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Almost Away</span></h2> -<p>Charles Keene was winging his way back to -Curaçao. Derek Zook was in La Trinité across the -Island of Martinique from Fort-de-France. Biff Brewster -was still a prisoner in the cellhouse outside Willemstad. -Herman Dietz and Specks Cade were at the -Fisheries Commission Office in Fort-de-France, giving -a cowering clerk a very hard time.</p> -<p>A tall, gaunt man, his body wasted away by a long -siege of fever, lay on a narrow cot in a monastery -high in the Pitons du Carbet.</p> -<p>The time was approaching when all these people -would be drawn closer and closer together, the magnet -attracting them being a small but rich pearl fishery -in the Baie du Trésor.</p> -<p>When Charlie dropped Derek off at La Trinité, he -had had one suggestion as to where the Dutch lad -could best start his search for his father.</p> -<p>“The post office, Derek,” Charles Keene had said. -“That would be your best bet. Your letter and mine -both bore the La Trinité postmark. See what you can -find out there.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_96">96</div> -<p>Derek was now following Charles Keene’s advice.</p> -<p>“A tall man, you say. Very fair with light-brown -hair?” the postal clerk asked.</p> -<p>“Yes. My father,” Derek said. “I know he was -here about three months ago, perhaps a little longer -than that.”</p> -<p>The postal clerk thought for a moment. “There -was such a man as you describe. I recall him. His appearance -was in such contrast to the rest of us here -in Trinité. But I have not seen him for months.”</p> -<p>“I know. I haven’t heard from him either. I am -desperately anxious for any hint as to where he might -have gone.”</p> -<p>“Zook. That was his name, wasn’t it?”</p> -<p>“Yes, yes,” Derek replied eagerly.</p> -<p>“Again, the name I remember because it is so different -from the names of the people who live here. -Yes, many of us knew about this man. He was searching -the waters of our treasure bay.”</p> -<p>“That was my father, all right.”</p> -<p>“It was rumored that he searched for pearls,” the -clerk went on. “The people of this village had great -interest in his activities.”</p> -<p>“Would there be any one person who might have -known him well?”</p> -<p>“When he was not out searching the ocean floor, -he stayed at a small <i>pension</i> not far from here. You -could inquire there.”</p> -<p>“Where is the place?”</p> -<p>“It is called by the name of Pension Sans Souci. You -will have no trouble in finding it. It is on this very -street. When you go out, turn to your right. A -walk of two blocks will bring you there.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_97">97</div> -<p>“<i>Merci.</i> Thank you very much,” Derek said.</p> -<p>His hopes were high as he walked down the street -under a blazing tropical sun. But these high hopes -were short lived. At the Sans Souci, the boardinghouse -whose English name would be “Without Care,” Derek -learned little more.</p> -<p>“I am so sorry, young man, that I cannot give you -news of your father,” the manager of the small boardinghouse -told Derek. “We were very fond of him.”</p> -<p>“He left no word as to where he was going?”</p> -<p>“No. We didn’t even know he had left us. One -morning, quite early, he came to our modest establishment. -I thought he seemed quite distraught. He -was not his usual cheerful self. He had hardly a word -with me. And it was his custom to chat with others -here. He went to his room. To rest, I supposed. I -went to awaken him for the noon meal. His room was -empty.”</p> -<p>“And that is all you can tell me?”</p> -<p>“As much as I regret it, that is all I know. There -have been rumors—”</p> -<p>“What? What are they?” Derek wanted any information -that might be a clue to his father’s whereabouts.</p> -<p>“It was reported, shortly after your father left us, -that such a man of his appearance had been seen in the -foothills of the Carbet Mountains. But these tales were -discounted. It would be highly unlikely that your -father would explore the mountains. His interest was -in the ocean and what might be on the bottom of the -sea. I am sorry, young man.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_98">98</div> -<p>Derek left the Sans Souci very disheartened. If the -rumors were true, why would his father have gone -into the interior of the island? And if he had gone -there, why had he stayed so long?</p> -<p>“I’m going to find out,” Derek said to himself determinedly. -“Every chance I get, I’ll go into those -foothills and peaks. I’ll find him.”</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>In Fort-de-France, Herman Dietz could hardly -contain his anger. Specks had never seen the boss so -furious.</p> -<p>“But it could not have been,” Dietz said angrily. -He and Specks were in the Fisheries Commission -Office. The clerk they were talking to cringed at -Dietz’s words.</p> -<p>“You’re a fool!” Dietz raged. “I tell you Derek -Zook <i>couldn’t</i> have signed for those papers. Derek -Zook is in Curaçao. Right this minute.”</p> -<p>The clerk could only shake his head.</p> -<p>“You remember what I promised you?” Dietz continued. -“I told you you would share in the proceeds -of the pearl fishery. There was little you had to do. -Only hold up those rights until I could act.”</p> -<p>“I tried, Mr. Dietz. I delayed as long as I could. -Keene and the boy were here over two hours. I expected -you here to lodge a protest. But when you -failed to appear, I had to issue the permit.”</p> -<p>“Well, I’m going to lodge a protest now. With the -Commissioner himself. I’ll tell him how badly you -botched your job! How you permitted an impostor -to fool you.”</p> -<p>Dietz stormed out of the office, followed by Specks, -and made for the office of the Commissioner.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_99">99</div> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>“Another day is coming to an end, Crunch,” Biff -said to the giant Carib. “And I’m getting hungry. -How about my moving that alarm clock up half an -hour?”</p> -<p>“Crunch hungry, too. Here.” Crunch handed Biff -the alarm clock. Biff moved the alarm, setting it back -from six-thirty to six.</p> -<p>“There, we’ll have dinner half an hour earlier.”</p> -<p>During the long day, Biff had made great progress -in gaining Crunch’s confidence and friendship. He -had drawn the simple-minded giant out about his -brother. The crime the brother had committed was a -petty crime, a small theft. Biff felt almost certain -that the police had long since wiped the charge from -the books. Even if they hadn’t, the theft had taken -place so long ago that Biff thought the statute of limitations -would have erased the charge.</p> -<p>Dietz, of course, had blown up the seriousness of -the theft into a major crime. He had put a real fear -into Crunch and his brother.</p> -<p>The brother had paid a high price for his deed. -Forced to hide out on Martinique, he had been separated -from his wife and children for years.</p> -<p>“Little brother very much want to come back to -Curaçao. Want to see family.”</p> -<p>“Too bad, Crunch,” Biff sympathized. “I can imagine -how he feels. Does he write? How do you hear -from him.”</p> -<p>“No write letters. Can’t write. Friends tell about -him. Friends who come to Curaçao from island.”</p> -<p>“From Martinique?”</p> -<p>“That’s right. From Martinique Island many, many -boat days away.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_100">100</div> -<p>“You know, Crunch, I wouldn’t be surprised if I -could help your brother come back to Curaçao. He -might have to go to jail. But only for a short time. I -don’t know about that. If he did commit that crime, -he’d have to pay for it. But wouldn’t it be better if he -faced the charge? His sentence would be light. At the -end, he would be free.”</p> -<p>Crunch leaned forward to Biff. Big and powerful -as the man was, he had the feelings of a small child. -Biff could see tears in his eyes.</p> -<p>“You do that, Crunch your friend!”</p> -<p>“I can’t promise, Crunch. But I do know that Dietz -has been using you. Misusing is a better word.”</p> -<p>Biff wasn’t sure Crunch understood. He couldn’t -be sure. But he felt that he was getting to the giant -Indian. At first, it had been Biff’s plan to gain Crunch’s -confidence, outwit him, and escape. He still wanted to -escape, but by now, he felt a great sympathy for the -simple, friendly man. He really wanted to help him.</p> -<p>The alarm bell went off. Crunch stood up.</p> -<p>“No magic. You still be here when Crunch come -back?”</p> -<p>“I’ll be here, Crunch,” Biff replied.</p> -<p>Crunch went out, still careful to lock the door behind -him. There could be no doubt that his liking -for Biff was growing, but fear of Dietz still guided -the Indian’s actions.</p> -<p>Crunch had been gone about five minutes. Biff -stretched out on the cot and turned on his left side. -“Ouch,” he said as the pen clipped to his shirt pocket -dug into him. He changed the pen to his hip pocket -and settled, face down, relaxed. Suddenly he sat up -again, took out the pen, and stared at it thoughtfully....</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_101">101</div> -<p>Minutes later, Biff was startled by a call, a call -from a voice that was good news to Biff.</p> -<p>“Biff! Biff! Where are you? Sing out so I can come -to you.”</p> -<p>“Here, Uncle Charlie! I’m here! In this house. It’s -the one farthest from the big house.”</p> -<p>“I’m on my way, Biff!”</p> -<p>Biff leaped to the door. He stood there, hands -grasping the bars, straining his eyes to spot his uncle.</p> -<p>He saw him coming at a run.</p> -<p>“Hi, Uncle Charlie!” Biff called. “I knew you’d be -back for me!” He could see the big grin on Charlie’s -face as he drew nearer.</p> -<p>Biff’s smile of happiness changed to one of dismay. -His uncle was only a few feet away. From behind a -clump of bushes, Crunch appeared. He leaped out as -Charlie passed. His huge arms wrapped around Keene.</p> -<p>“Look out!” Biff cried. It was too late.</p> -<p>Charles Keene, a powerful man himself, was helpless -in the giant Indian’s grasp.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_102">102</div> -<h2 id="c16"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XVI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A “Magic” Alarm</span></h2> -<p>Biff watched his uncle struggle to break free of the -Indian’s crushing grasp. He saw the tendons in his -uncle’s neck grow taut and stand out as Charlie Keene -heaved his shoulders with every bit of his strength.</p> -<p>It was as if his uncle were trying to break loose -from iron bands.</p> -<p>“Crunch! Crunch,” Biff shouted. “Let him go! Let -him go!”</p> -<p>The Indian only shook his head.</p> -<p>Biff strained at the iron bars, furious that he was unable -to go to his uncle’s aid.</p> -<p>“I’m your friend, Crunch! So is that man. He’s my -uncle. Let him go!”</p> -<p>Crunch ignored Biff. Charlie’s face was turning red. -The powerful Crunch was actually trying to crush -his smaller opponent. Biff knew he had to do something -and do it fast. But what?</p> -<p>Biff realized that if he were to keep his uncle from -having some ribs cracked, it would have to be brains -against brawn. Maybe Biff could play on the Indian’s -superstition.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_103">103</div> -<p>“Crunch!” he shouted again. “If you don’t let him -go, I’ll make more magic—bad magic.”</p> -<p>At first the words had no effect on Crunch. But -after a few moments, Biff’s threat seemed to sink in. -Crunch released some of his pressure, but still held -Charlie Keene firmly.</p> -<p>“If you don’t let him go, I’ll make the magic that -takes me out of this house,” Biff threatened.</p> -<p>Crunch was listening now.</p> -<p>“I’ll disappear, Crunch. Watch.”</p> -<p>Biff moved away from the doorway. He went to -the window to the right of the door. He stayed below -the opening so Crunch couldn’t see him.</p> -<p>“Where am I, Crunch?” Biff called out. “You -think I’m at this window, don’t you? You hear my -voice at this window. But I’m not here. Only my -voice is. My body is at the other window.”</p> -<p>Biff leaped across the small room at his last word -and sprang into view at the window to the left of the -door. As he looked out, Crunch was still watching -the other window.</p> -<p>Biff banged the bars of the window, being careful -not to speak. Crunch swung his head around. The -sight of Biff startled him. Biff ducked down. He -cupped his hands and held them to his mouth. Turning -his head in the direction of the other window, he -called in a low voice:</p> -<p>“But my voice is still where you first heard it!”</p> -<p>Biff raised his head slowly. The simple trick was -working. Crunch had turned to the other window.</p> -<p>“Now my voice and body are back together again, -Crunch!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_104">104</div> -<p>The startled expression on Crunch’s face showed -the giant Indian’s confusion. He was becoming frightened.</p> -<p>“If I only had a clincher,” Biff thought. “Something -that would really impress Crunch.” Biff’s eyes -lit on the alarm clock. An idea popped into his head.</p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/p06.jpg" alt="Uncaptioned" width="1200" height="590" /> -</div> -<p>“I’m going to disappear, Crunch,” he called. “But -I’ll return. And if I return, you will have to release -that man.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_105">105</div> -<p>Biff ducked down. He grabbed the alarm clock -and raced into the back room, careful to keep out of -sight. Biff was counting on the Indian’s actually believing -he had disappeared to get enough time to put -his new idea into effect.</p> -<p>Quickly Biff reset the alarm. He set it to go off in -three minutes. He put the alarm lever at “<span class="sc">ON</span>.” Then -he went to a side window and tossed the alarm clock -out. He saw it land in the soft sand, and prayed the fall -hadn’t damaged the clock.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_106">106</div> -<p>Biff hurried back to the front room. He got down -on his hands and knees and crawled to the door. It was -a huge door. The bottom half was of heavy, thick timbers. -The upper half was open with five-inch-thick -iron bars. Slowly Biff raised his head until it was just -above the solid half of the door. From the outside his -head looked as if it were detached from his body.</p> -<p>“Crunch,” Biff said the name softly. Crunch, fright -showing in his eyes, looked from one window to the -other.</p> -<p>“Crunch,” Biff called softly again. “I’m down here -now. My head is.”</p> -<p>Crunch looked at the door. His eyes widened, showing -white. Crunch was becoming terrified.</p> -<p>“I give you a minute, Crunch. Just one minute. -Then, if you don’t release my uncle, evil spirits will -surround you and this house. They will ring -bells....”</p> -<p>“I hope, I hope,” Biff said to himself. Crunch still -held on to Charles Keene. But his grip was nowhere -near as strong as it had been.</p> -<p>Biff waited. In his anxiety, his palms were sweating.</p> -<p>“Crunch,” Biff said again. “I’ve warned you. Let -him go.”</p> -<p>At these words, the alarm clock went off.</p> -<p>“EEEEiiiipe!” Crunch yelled. He let go of Charlie, -turned, and fled.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene shook himself. He pressed his ribs -with his hands.</p> -<p>“No bones broken. But wow! Is that guy ever -strong! He could have crushed me, Biff. That was -sure quick thinking on your part.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_107">107</div> -<p>Charlie walked over to the door. “If I’d known -how powerful that man is,” he added, “I never would -have let you get yourself captured.”</p> -<p>Biff smiled. “Crunch isn’t as bad as he seems, Uncle -Charlie. He’s really a very gentle man.”</p> -<p>“Gentle! You’ve never been given a Crunch bear -hug!”</p> -<p>“I mean he’s a simple soul. He’s superstitious. He -really thinks I can magic myself out of this place. -He thinks that’s how Derek got out the first time. He -doesn’t know, of course, that it was I, not Derek, he -saw outside.”</p> -<p>“And speaking of getting outside, just how are -we going to get you out of this place?” Uncle Charlie -demanded.</p> -<p>“Crunch has the key,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“And you’ve scared him so badly he’ll never come -back. Let me take a look at this lock.”</p> -<p>Charlie examined the lock carefully.</p> -<p>“It’s no good, Biff. It’s too strong to force. I can’t -open this lock. You’re just going to have to magic -your way out.”</p> -<p>“Or get Crunch to come back and let me out.”</p> -<p>“Think you can, Biff? I doubt it.”</p> -<p>“I can try,” Biff replied. “Crunch and I were getting -to be good friends. He’s not a bad guy. Dietz -has a hold on him and forces him to do this dirty -work. I’m going to call him.... Crunch!” Biff sang -out.</p> -<p>No answer.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_108">108</div> -<p>“Crunch! Can you hear me? If you can, listen carefully. -I’ve sent the evil spirits away. They won’t harm -you. They have stopped their noises.” The alarm -clock had run down.</p> -<p>“I’m still locked in, Crunch. I promised you I -wouldn’t use my magic to get out. I’ve kept my -promise. Come back and see.”</p> -<p>“If this works, Biff,” Uncle Charlie said in a low -voice, “then you’ve really got that giant under your -thumb.”</p> -<p>Biff and his uncle waited. No sign of Crunch. No -sound.</p> -<p>“It’ll be night soon, Biff. He’ll never come back in -the dark.”</p> -<p>“I know that. I’m going to try again. Crunch! -Night is coming on. My magic works better in the -dark. If you don’t come back before it’s dark, then -I’ll have to break my promise and magic my way -out.”</p> -<p>“That ought to do it if anything will, Biff,” Charlie -said.</p> -<p>They waited. Both looked toward the east. Already -the horizon was beginning to darken. Minutes -passed. It would be totally dark in another minute.</p> -<p>“Crunch come back.” The deep voice came from -the shadows.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene swung around. Ten feet away, at -the edge of the sand apron extending from the undergrowth -to the house, stood Crunch.</p> -<p>“Let me do the talking, Uncle Charlie,” Biff said in -a low voice.</p> -<p>“You bet I will, Biff. You know how to handle -that giant.”</p> -<p>“Come here, Crunch,” Biff said gently.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_109">109</div> -<p>The Indian approached cautiously. His head pivoted -from one direction to the other. Crunch was -looking for the evil spirits.</p> -<p>“I have kept my promise, Crunch. I have not made -the magic that would take me out of here.”</p> -<p>Crunch didn’t speak.</p> -<p>“I want you to let this man in here with me. I want -to show you that we are your friends.”</p> -<p>Crunch was at the door. His hand pulled out the -large key to the lock.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie, Crunch is going to let you come -in with me. Then he will go back to the house for -food for all of us—”</p> -<p>“But, Biff,” Charlie protested, “if I get locked in -there with you—”</p> -<p>“It will be all right, Uncle Charlie. Crunch is our -friend. We are his friends. Please, let me handle this -my way.”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, Biff.”</p> -<p>Crunch turned the key in the lock. He swung the -door open. Charlie Keene entered, and Crunch closed -and locked the door. Without another word, he disappeared -in the darkness on the way to the big house.</p> -<p>“Biff, if I didn’t know you so well, I’d say you’d -gone a little soft in the head.” Charlie Keene shook -his own head. “Now we’re both locked in.”</p> -<p>Biff was lighting a candle. In the glow of its light, -Uncle Charlie could see a big smile spread over his -nephew’s face.</p> -<p>“You think so, Uncle Charlie? Watch this!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_110">110</div> -<p>Biff went to the door. He knelt down, holding the -candle’s flame at the keyhole. He placed his thumb -and forefinger carefully at the keyhole opening and -grasped a small wire.</p> -<p>“This ought to work. I inserted this piece of wire -in the lock’s catch. If it wasn’t dislodged when -Crunch just now opened the door, then I should be -able to spring the catch with this wire. Hold your -breath, Uncle Charlie. Here goes.”</p> -<p>Biff tugged smoothly but firmly on the wire. There -was a sharp “click.” The catch was sprung. Biff -pushed the door open.</p> -<p>“But where did you dig up a piece of wire?” Uncle -Charlie asked. “Maybe Crunch is right and you do -have a touch of that old black magic.”</p> -<p>Biff chuckled. “Not black, Unc, blue magic.” Biff -held out the separate parts of a blue plastic ballpoint -pen. “I remembered I had this in my pocket. I -removed the steel spring from it, straightened it the -best I could, and used it.”</p> -<p>“Well, I’ll be—” Charlie Keene said.</p> -<p>“Don’t you remember, Uncle Charlie? You taught -me that trick.”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene chuckled. “I take it all back, Biff. -There’s nothing soft about that head of yours. Now, -let’s get out of here! But fast!”</p> -<p>“Why, Uncle Charlie? We can get out any time -we want to. Why don’t we both spend the night here? -I’d like to gain Crunch’s confidence completely. He -could be a big help to us on Martinique. It’s good to -have a friend in the enemy’s camp.”</p> -<p>“Yes, Biff. I think you’ve really got something going. -We couldn’t get back to Martinique tonight, anyway.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_111">111</div> -<p>Biff opened the door and went out.</p> -<p>“Where are you going?” his uncle called softly.</p> -<p>“Back in a minute.” Biff was back in less.</p> -<p>“Had to get this,” he said with a grin. He held up -the alarm clock. “Heap big magic, Uncle Charlie.”</p> -<p>Biff left the door open. He and his uncle sat down -on the cot.</p> -<p>“When Crunch comes back and sees the door open,” -Biff laughed, “he’ll really think I can out-magic a voodoo -medicine man.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_112">112</div> -<h2 id="c17"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XVII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Reunited</span></h2> -<p>Biff and his uncle heard Crunch approaching.</p> -<p>“I want to see this,” Charlie said. He walked over -to the window. Biff was right beside him. Crunch -stood in the sand, staring at the open door. It took -several moments for the Indian to get over his amazement. -He put down the food he was carrying and -moved about in a shuffle, trying to make up his mind -what he should do next.</p> -<p>The giant turned suddenly and started off at a lope, -intending to search the grounds for Biff and his uncle.</p> -<p>“We’re still here, Crunch,” Biff called out. “We -haven’t escaped.”</p> -<p>Crunch stopped. He came back to the cellhouse -slowly. Standing in the doorway, his jaw sagged open. -Disbelief showed in his eyes.</p> -<p>“No go away? No escape?” He was completely -bewildered.</p> -<p>“No, Crunch. I told you we wouldn’t.”</p> -<p>“How you get door open?”</p> -<p>Biff only smiled in reply, looking very wise and -mysterious.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_113">113</div> -<p>“Magic! You make more magic!”</p> -<p>When Biff still didn’t say anything, Crunch went -back outside and got the food. When he came in, he -placed the food on the table, then carefully locked -the door. After he had done so, he looked at the key, -and a foolish expression came over his face, as if he -were asking himself, “Why do I lock the door?”</p> -<p>Crunch still wore a puzzled look on his face as he -sat quietly and watched Biff and Uncle Charlie eat the -meal he had prepared for them. It was a fish dish with -a delicious but very hot sauce. The sauce burned the -eaters’ mouths, making the cool, smooth avocado salad -that went with it highly welcome.</p> -<p>“That was mighty good, Crunch,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“Sure was,” Uncle Charlie chimed in. He took a sip -of lime drink and spoke to Biff. “We’d better turn in -early. We’ll want to get an early start for Martinique. -Going to take Crunch with us?”</p> -<p>“How about it, Crunch?” Biff asked. “Would you -like to go to Martinique? You could see your brother. -Maybe my uncle and I could help him.”</p> -<p>“Crunch have to stay here. Wait for boss Dietz.”</p> -<p>“Mr. Dietz is in Martinique, Crunch. He might -need you over there,” Biff said.</p> -<p>It was going to take some time for Crunch to figure -this one out. He was still afraid of Dietz.</p> -<p>“Think it over, Crunch, and tell us in the morning,” -Biff said.</p> -<p>When dawn broke, and Uncle Charlie shook his -sleep-drugged nephew into wakefulness, both knew -that they had won Crunch completely over. He had -already gone to the main house for food. And he had -left the door wide open!</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_114">114</div> -<p>“Made up your mind yet, Crunch?” Biff asked the -Carib Indian after they had finished breakfast. “You -coming with us?”</p> -<p>Crunch was silent, still torn between his fear of -Dietz and his admiration for Biff.</p> -<p>“We’re going now,” Biff told him.</p> -<p>Biff and his uncle went to the door. The Indian -made no move to prevent their leaving.</p> -<p>“Good-by, Crunch,” Biff called.</p> -<p>Crunch stood in the doorway and watched them -leave. At the arched gateway, Biff and his uncle -climbed into the car. Charlie started it up. They were -just beginning to roll when they heard a shout. Looking -back, Biff saw Crunch coming on the run.</p> -<p>“Wait! Wait! Crunch come with you.”</p> -<p>A completely new life was opening up for Crunch. -He had never been off the island of Curaçao. He had -never been in an aircraft. For the first half of the -flight to Martinique, he sat rigidly in his seat, hands -grasping the seat arms as if he were holding the plane -in the air.</p> -<p>“We’ll stop at Fort-de-France first, Biff,” Uncle -Charlie said. “Got to pick up some diving equipment -and other supplies. Then we’ll hop on over to -La Trinité.”</p> -<p>Flying low over the waters of the Caribbean, as -his uncle came in for a landing in the harbor, Biff -spotted a large net bobbing in a sweeping arc between -two native boats. The fishermen doffed their broad -straw hats and waved at the plane. Directly over the -seine, Biff could see thousands of fish leaping, swirling, -their silver sides glittering in the sunlight.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_115">115</div> -<p>Walking through the teeming streets of the city -was an experience in itself. Fort-de-France with its -66,000 residents is crowded between two rivers gallantly -named Rivière Madame and Rivière Monsieur. -To Biff, it seemed as if every resident of the town -swarmed in the narrow street down which the three -walked that morning.</p> -<p>“Look at that!” Biff said in amazement.</p> -<p>A small native woman walked briskly among the -crowd. A sixty-pound basket of fruit and vegetables -was balanced on her head.</p> -<p>“Biff, these people are small, but they’re powerful. -And they have a magnificent sense of balance,” Uncle -Charlie said.</p> -<p>In the basket which the woman wore like a headpiece -were bright red tomatoes, a green pebble-skinned -breadfruit, and some fat pineapples. Under -one arm she carried a full stalk of bananas.</p> -<p>The capital of Martinique was a blaze of color, -from the women’s costumes to the buildings and the -flowers growing riotously in every garden and patio. -Beautiful bougainvillea, brilliantly colored from rich, -deep purple and red to pale lavender and violet, spilled -over balconies like cascading waterfalls.</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie led Biff and Crunch to a small hardware -store. There was hardly an inch of open space in -the store. A heavy bathtub hung over the entrance. -Garden hose, bicycles, pots, pans, fishing and skin-diving -equipment crowded shelves and hung from -rafters.</p> -<p>“How can anyone find anything in here?” Biff -asked.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_116">116</div> -<p>“A mystery to me, too, Biff,” Uncle Charlie -laughed. “But the clerks can put their hands on any -item you ask for in a second. They’re really out to -serve you.”</p> -<p>Biff was given an example of this as his uncle -made his purchases. In no time at all, Biff and Crunch -were laden with marking buoys, two Scubas—self-contained, -underwater-breathing apparatus—and -Uncle Charlie brought up the rear with a gay red-and-white -nylon tent.</p> -<p>“This is all we need here,” he said. “We’ll get the -rest of the stuff we need—pots and pans and so on—in -Trinité.”</p> -<p>Making their way back to the aircraft, Biff envied -the natives their ability to carry tremendous loads -with no apparent effort.</p> -<p>The hop across the island to La Trinité was a short -one. The plane was secured to a mooring and gear -unloaded.</p> -<p>“Well, Crunch, what are you going to do?” Uncle -Charlie asked.</p> -<p>“Find my little brother first,” Crunch replied.</p> -<p>“And what about Dietz?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Maybe find him, too. Where Crunch find you?”</p> -<p>“We’re going to make our headquarters here just -down the street. At the Sans Souci. We’ll show you,” -Charlie Keene said, “and if you want to find us, or get -in touch, ask there.”</p> -<p>“What about Derek?” Biff asked. “We’ve got to locate -him.”</p> -<p>“Don’t worry, Biff. In a town this size everybody -knows everything that’s going on. I’ll bet you right -now the grapevine has spread word of our arrival. -If Derek is around, he’ll be looking us up within an -hour.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_117">117</div> -<p>Charles Keene was right. He and Biff checked -into the Sans Souci. Crunch went off.</p> -<p>“A little more shopping, Biff, and we’re ready to -take off as soon as Derek locates us, or vice versa,” -Biff’s uncle said.</p> -<p>Derek caught up with Biff and Uncle Charlie in -midafternoon. The Dutch boy was delighted to rejoin -his friends.</p> -<p>“This is really fine!” he exclaimed. “So good, Biff, -to be back with you and your uncle.”</p> -<p>“That goes double for me, Derek. Any news of -your father?”</p> -<p>Derek’s face fell. “No. I’ve heard some rumors -about him, but so far, I’ve learned nothing definite -as to where he might be. The island grapevine of news -seems to break down just as I think I have a real clue.”</p> -<p>“Too bad, Derek,” Charlie said. “But don’t give up -hope. We’re all together now. Biff and I want to help -you search for your father. It’s important to me to find -him, too. After all, I’m working for him.”</p> -<p>“Are you working for me now, too?” Derek asked -with a mischievous smile.</p> -<p>“Sure thing, Derek,” Uncle Charlie agreed. “When -your father’s not here, you’re the boss.”</p> -<p>“We’ll work well together. How about it, Biff?”</p> -<p>Biff grinned. “Couldn’t find a better combination.”</p> -<p>“And I don’t think we have to worry too much -about Dietz now,” Charles Keene added.</p> -<p>That’s where Uncle Charlie was wrong.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_118">118</div> -<h2 id="c18"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XVIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">All Set To Dive</span></h2> -<p>It was nearly five o’clock when Biff, Derek, and -Charlie Keene reached the dock in the harbor of the -Baie du Trésor. They rode a truck five miles out of -La Trinité. The truck was piled high with gear necessary -to their search.</p> -<p>A thirty-foot cabin cruiser was waiting for them. -Keene had chartered it as his first step after arriving in -La Trinité. Slung on davits on the cruiser’s stern was a -fourteen-foot dory with an outboard motor. This -was the boat from which they would do the pearl -diving.</p> -<p>With all gear stowed, Uncle Charlie started the -cruiser’s engine and backed away. On the dock, -natives waved, calling, “<i>Bonne chance! Bonne chance!</i> -Good luck! Good luck!”</p> -<p>“Take the wheel, Biff,” his uncle ordered. “Head -straight out while I confer with the owner.”</p> -<p>“The owner?” Biff and Derek glanced around the -cruiser, then looked curiously at Uncle Charlie.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_119">119</div> -<p>“That’s you, Derek.” Biff’s uncle grinned. “Since -you’re the boss, you’re the owner. I’m the skipper, and -Biff is the crew. And I’m sure you want a tightly run -ship, so look sharp there, Brewster.”</p> -<p>“Aye, aye, skipper,” Biff said with a smile.</p> -<p>“Now, Derek, where do we head?” Uncle Charlie -asked. “Did your father give you any idea where this -pearl fishery is?”</p> -<p>“Only a vague one, Captain.” Derek had entered -the spirit of the game. “I know that after leaving Treasure -Bay Harbor, we head due south—”</p> -<p>“Bring her around, mate,” Keene called to Biff. “Set -your compass reading for a southerly run.”</p> -<p>They had left the harbor, and Biff spun the wheel. -The cruiser’s bow came around, and Biff held the -boat on a due south course.</p> -<p>“He wrote me the spot was about five miles off the -main coast of Martinique,” Derek said, “almost directly -west of the town of Le François.”</p> -<p>“I know the town.” Keene nodded. “It’s a small -fishing village. Ten miles down the coast. Put her at -full speed, mate. We’ve got to make a landing before -nightfall.”</p> -<p>“There’s a group of small islands off Le François,” -Derek continued. “We’ve got to locate the right island. -The fishery is a mile off one of them.”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene wiped the sweat off his forehead. -“Whew! Not much to go on. There must be a dozen -or more islands in that group. Some of them aren’t -more than a few acres in area. We’ll make camp on -one of the larger ones. Did your father give you any -indication of water depth at the fishery?”</p> -<p>“About forty feet.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_120">120</div> -<p>“That will help. We won’t do any diving in water -over, say, fifty feet. But, Derek, there’s lots and lots -of water around here.”</p> -<p>And there was. The coast line and pitons of Martinique -were plainly visible, a lush green of wild -growth, with fern trees rising as high as maples. West -were the endless waters of the Atlantic Ocean.</p> -<p>“We’ll need all the ‘<i>bonne chance</i>’ we can get,” -Biff’s uncle commented.</p> -<p>It took about an hour to make the run from Treasure -Bay to the islands off Le François. Biff was still at -the wheel. His uncle took out a pair of binoculars -and swept his gaze over the island group.</p> -<p>“Over there, Biff. That larger one, right between -those two smaller ones. Cut your speed. We don’t -know how these waters shoal. Derek, go forward. -Watch for bottom.”</p> -<p>The cruiser approached the shore slowly.</p> -<p>“Plenty of water,” Derek sang out. Then, “Sand. -I see sand bottom,” he called a little later.</p> -<p>“Ease her in, Biff. That small cove. See if you can -take her in there. Give us some protection if a <i>chabasco</i> -hits.”</p> -<p>The cruiser inched forward. The sound of the -boat’s keel grating on the sand bottom came to -their ears. Biff cut the engine. The cruiser ground to -a stop five feet from shore.</p> -<p>“Perfect, Biff. We’ll get a little damp making the -next five feet, but I kind of feel like a swim. How -about it?” Uncle Charlie suggested.</p> -<p>Biff and Derek stripped off their shirts. Shoes and -socks followed. The boys dived over the side. Charlie -Keene was right behind them. All three frolicked in -the warm waters of the Caribbean for a while.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_121">121</div> -<p>“All out,” Uncle Charlie ordered presently. “We’ve -got work to do. Night’s coming on.”</p> -<p>The cruiser was secured. The dory was lowered -and pulled up on the beach. Biff’s uncle remained in -the cruiser. Derek took a position waist deep in the -water halfway between the boat’s bow and the shore. -Charlie passed gear to Derek. Derek handed it on to -Biff on shore. The unloading went smoothly and -quickly.</p> -<p>Next came the tent. It was set up. Cots were unfolded. -A small table and three captain’s chairs were -put into place.</p> -<p>“Scoop out a wide, shallow hole and line it with -shells.” That was Uncle Charlie’s next order. He -kept the boys hopping.</p> -<p>“We’ll put our stove in the shell-lined hole.” Charlie -ripped open a carton containing a small two-burner -propane stove and set it up.</p> -<p>“String up the lanterns, Biff. It’ll be dark soon.”</p> -<p>The job of setting up camp was completed just as -the swift-falling night blanketed the tiny island with -darkness.</p> -<p>“Everything look shipshape to you, skipper?” Biff -asked his uncle.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene looked around.</p> -<p>“Can’t log anything against either of you so far. -Good job. Now let’s eat.”</p> -<p>Biff and Derek peeled some potatoes; Uncle Charlie -took a small axe and broke open a canned ham, disdaining -to use the key attached to the can.</p> -<p>“Ham and fried potatoes. How does that sound?” -Uncle Charlie asked.</p> -<p>“I could eat anything,” Biff replied.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_122">122</div> -<p>“Might as well open up a can of stewed tomatoes, -too.”</p> -<p>The food, although roughly prepared, seemed delicious -to all three. Uncle Charlie was a good cook. -The potatoes were crisp and brown. The tomatoes, -well, they were just stewed tomatoes. The Danish -ham had a delicate flavor unlike any Biff had eaten -before.</p> -<p>“It’s rather like the hams we have in Holland,” -Derek said.</p> -<p>“Only two problems in connection with running -this camp,” Uncle Charlie commented. “Air and -water.”</p> -<p>“Air? I’ve never breathed such pure air,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“And how much more water do you want than the -Caribbean Sea?” Derek chimed in.</p> -<p>“Ever tried drinking it?” Biff’s uncle chuckled. -“Don’t. Fresh water, my lad, is what we need. And -there are no springs or wells on these islands.”</p> -<p>“Well, we couldn’t find any fresher air,” Biff said. -“You’ve got to admit that, Uncle Charlie.”</p> -<p>“Sure, Biff, sure. But what we want is compressed -air. For the Scubas. Those air tanks only -carry enough for an hour’s diving. I have one extra -tank. We have enough compressed air for about -two hours’ diving daily. I mean two hours for each -of you. I don’t think there’s any compressed air in -Le François. I know there is in Trinité.”</p> -<p>“Well, that’s not too far,” Biff said. “We’ll have to -go in to Trinité every day. Air and water.”</p> -<p>“And fresh food, Biff,” Uncle Charlie added.</p> -<p>Derek had been silent during this discussion. Now -he spoke:</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_123">123</div> -<p>“Mr. Keene, I have a plan I want to suggest.”</p> -<p>“Fire away, Derek.”</p> -<p>“Since we have to go in to Trinité every day, I -think we ought to do our diving in the morning.”</p> -<p>“Okay by me, Derek. Go on.”</p> -<p>“Then, around noon, we could go into Trinité. You -and Biff could see about supplies. I’d like to spend my -afternoons searching for my father. I’m more anxious -to find him than to locate the pearl fishery.”</p> -<p>“We all are, Derek. And I think your plan’s a good -one. We could even spend the night at the Sans Souci -if we got any leads that would take more than one -afternoon to follow.”</p> -<p>“That’s what I thought. Martinique’s not too big an -island, but there are many wild, unsettled places on it. -I have a feeling that if my father is still alive, he’s up in -the hills somewhere.”</p> -<p>“Now, Derek, there’s no reason to believe your -father’s not alive,” Biff said softly.</p> -<p>Derek didn’t answer at once. When he did, his voice -trembled slightly.</p> -<p>“There’s one thing I learned that I didn’t tell you.” -He paused. “There was a storm, a <i>chabasco</i>, about -the time my father disappeared. I learned that, three -days after the <i>chabasco</i>, parts of his boat were washed -ashore south of here. Near Le Vauclin.”</p> -<p>Neither Biff nor his uncle replied. They knew -what Derek’s fear was. His father might have lost his -life in the storm.</p> -<p>“No one knows, though,” Derek went on hopefully, -“or seems to remember, whether the <i>chabasco</i> -struck before or after my father was last seen in -Trinité.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_124">124</div> -<p>“You mean when he mailed us our letters?” Uncle -Charlie asked.</p> -<p>“Yes,” was Derek’s one-word reply.</p> -<p>“We can check that, Derek. The postmark will -show the date. And the day of the <i>chabasco</i> will have -been recorded somewhere in Trinité.”</p> -<p>“I never thought of that,” Derek said. He sounded -much more cheerful. Charles Keene had restored his -hope.</p> -<p>“Big day ahead of us, boys,” Biff’s uncle said now. -“I’d say it was about time to hit the sack. You with -me?”</p> -<p>Biff and Derek were. It seemed impossible to Biff -that only that morning, he had been in Curaçao. It -also seemed to Biff that he had just heard his uncle -say, “Hit the sack,” when his uncle’s voice came to -him again. This time it was, “Hit the deck!”</p> -<p>Morning had come. In an hour, Biff would be at the -bottom of the ocean, searching for pearls.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_125">125</div> -<h2 id="c19"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XIX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Pearl Diving</span></h2> -<p>“Before we go out, we’re going to have a dry run -with the Scubas,” Biff’s uncle announced.</p> -<p>Biff, Derek, and Uncle Charlie were on the beach -where the cruiser was anchored.</p> -<p>“Don’t know how much skin diving you’ve done, -Derek—you said some—but Biff can tell you that all -diving equipment must be carefully and thoroughly -checked out before you go down.”</p> -<p>Derek paid sharp attention.</p> -<p>“Don your Scubas,” Charlie ordered.</p> -<p>The boys quickly slipped on face masks, helmets, -water lungs, snorkels. Charlie helped them strap their -compressed-air tanks on their backs.</p> -<p>Next the boys put on their weight belts. Into -a rubber scabbard on each belt went a wickedly -sharp knife. There were sharks in these waters. A -depth gauge and watch were strapped on each boy’s -left wrist.</p> -<p>Charlie inspected each item of diving equipment -carefully. He tugged at straps, examined each piece -of gear separately.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_126">126</div> -<p>“Jettison belts!” he called out suddenly.</p> -<p>With a flip of his hand, Biff hit the catch on his -weight belt. It dropped to the sand. Derek was a few -seconds longer.</p> -<p>“Seconds can count, Derek, if you get into trouble. -Try it again.”</p> -<p>Derek slipped his weight belt back on. Charlie -shouted the order. Derek hit the catch, and his belt -dropped.</p> -<p>“That’s better, Derek. Remember, that belt is what -holds you down. If you have to come up fast, -you’ve got to get rid of that belt fast.”</p> -<p>“But don’t try to come up too fast, Derek,” Biff -said. “Especially if you’re down deep.”</p> -<p>“Biff’s right. A good rule to follow is not to rise -to the surface any faster than the escaping air bubbles. -Your body has to adjust to the variations in water -pressure. All right, let’s go out and try it in the -water now.”</p> -<p>They climbed in the dory. Uncle Charlie started -the outboard, and they moved offshore about fifty -feet.</p> -<p>“Sound for depth, Biff.”</p> -<p>Biff dropped a sounding line overboard. He pulled -it up, examined the leads marking off every three feet.</p> -<p>“Thirty feet, Uncle Charlie.”</p> -<p>“Okay. Now you know how to clear your masks.”</p> -<p>Both boys nodded their heads.</p> -<p>“I want to hear you tell me.”</p> -<p>Biff began promptly: “If water seeps into your -mask, clouding the glass and obscuring your vision, -you roll over on your back—”</p> -<p>“Take it from there, Derek,” Charlie cut in.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_127">127</div> -<p>“Then—then you blow air out through your nose. -The air pressure building up in the mask will force the -water out around the edges of the mask.”</p> -<p>“Good. You both know the most important safety -feature of skin diving. Okay, over you go.”</p> -<p>The boys slipped their swim fins, or flippers, on -their feet and lowered themselves overboard. They -sank slowly to the bottom.</p> -<p>At this point, the bottom was smooth, clean white -sand. Biff and Derek moved around, using their legs -and feet only for propulsion. Biff came up to Derek, -circled his thumb and forefinger together, indicating -that everything was going smoothly. Derek replied -with the “V for Victory” sign. Then they rose to -the surface.</p> -<p>When they broke water, Charlie Keene was waiting -with another order.</p> -<p>“Down again, and as soon as you touch bottom, -jettison your belts.”</p> -<p>Down they went again. Charles Keene was taking -no chances on the boys’ safety and ability to skin dive.</p> -<p>Up popped the boys, their wet heads appearing -above the water first and looking like strange creatures -from the deep. Biff flipped back his face mask.</p> -<p>“Good work, Biff. But you’ve got to go back down -and retrieve the weight belts. Here’s a spare. You’d -find it tough to get down thirty feet without it.”</p> -<p>Derek climbed aboard the dory while Biff submerged -to pick up the belts. He had to make two -trips. The weight of three belts would have held him -down.</p> -<p>“We might as well start our search off this island -first. Good as any.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_128">128</div> -<div class="img" id="pic4"> -<img src="images/p07.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="1096" /> -<p class="caption"><i>At this point, the bottom was smooth, clean white sand</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_129">129</div> -<p>The dory sped out to a point Uncle Charlie estimated -to be about a mile away. The anchor was -tossed overboard. The sounding line showed the water -depth at just over forty-five feet.</p> -<p>“I want you to take this spear along with you, -Biff.” Uncle Charlie handed his nephew a wicked, lethal-looking -weapon. Its tip was needle sharp.</p> -<p>“I doubt you’ll run into any bad fish here. But you -might. And don’t, <i>do not</i> use it except in case of extreme -danger. If you spear an attacking fish—shark, -barracuda or octopus—remember any blood will attract -other sharks, and then you’ll be in real trouble.”</p> -<p>Biff took the spear and examined it.</p> -<p>“Each of you take one of these wire baskets. -They’re to load the oysters in—if you find any. -I’m the puller-up. I’ve a line on each basket. Now get -these signals. I want both of you to give me one -sharp tug every ten minutes. That will tell me you’re -okay. Give two sharp tugs when your basket is filled. -I’ll pull the basket up, unload it, and lower it again. -Now, in case of emergency, a series of sharp tugs will -alert me, and I’ll be right down. Got it? Okay. -Over you go.”</p> -<p>The bottom was different this time. Instead of clean, -white sand, the bottom was covered with a layer of -mud mixed with sand. Biff felt around carefully. -Both boys were wearing thick rubber gloves to protect -their hands against the sharp, jagged oyster -shells.</p> -<p>As Biff was feeling around in the mud, Derek swam -over to him. He held a large oyster in front of Biff’s -mask. Then he plopped it in his basket.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_130">130</div> -<p>Biff’s hand touched a large shell. He dug it out and -discarded it. It was a clam. He ran into a nest of oysters. -He quickly filled his basket and gave the signal -to haul up. Minutes later, the basket came down, -swaying in the water at the bottom of the line.</p> -<p>The boys worked slowly, carefully, feeling their -way. Every so often, a large fish would swim up to -them, coming right to the face masks as if to ask, -“What are <i>you</i> doing down here?”</p> -<p>Biff kept a sharp check on his watch. He knew his -air tank had sufficient air to remain submerged for -one hour. It also had a five-minute emergency supply -in addition. Biff had no intention of waiting until he -had to use the extra air. After being down fifty-five -minutes, he signaled Derek. With his forefinger, he -pointed upward. Derek got the idea. The boys began -their slow ascent.</p> -<p>Rising, looking up toward the surface, they could -see the dory outlined above, a fat, cigar-shaped blob.</p> -<p>Breaking water as they surfaced, each boy grabbed -the dory’s gunwale. They were both tired. Neither -had realized how the water pressure at forty-five feet -had sapped their strength. They had been down -nearly an hour.</p> -<p>“You don’t know what a tough job diving is until -you’ve been down for a good spell,” Charlie said. He -leaned over the side and helped the boys into the -boat.</p> -<p>They took off their diving equipment.</p> -<p>“Had enough for today, boys?” Biff’s uncle inquired.</p> -<p>“Oh, no. We’ll go down again. After we rest,” -Biff replied. “All right with you, Derek?”</p> -<p>Derek nodded his head.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_131">131</div> -<p>“Actually, I don’t see much point in going back -down,” Uncle Charlie said. “We’ve got ten baskets -of oysters. We might as well shuck them and see if we -find any pearls. If we don’t, then we’ll say good-by to -this spot and try another tomorrow.”</p> -<p>“Now I like that idea,” Biff said and stretched out -on the narrow seat that ran around the side of the -dory.</p> -<p>His uncle upped anchor, and they headed back to -their island camp.</p> -<p>They didn’t go into Trinité that day, since they -still had the reserve tank of compressed air and -enough food for supper. The afternoon was spent at -the tedious job of opening oysters. It was slow going. -None of the three had the skill of a professional -oyster opener.</p> -<p>The job was totally unrewarding.</p> -<p>“Not one pearl.” Biff sighed.</p> -<p>“Not even a single tiny one,” Derek said sadly.</p> -<p>“Now, don’t be downhearted, boys,” Uncle Charlie -said, trying to cheer them up. “Can’t expect to hit -it the first day.”</p> -<p>“At any rate, we’ve got enough oysters to make a -stew. If we had some milk,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“Afraid not, Biff.”</p> -<p>“Yeah. Where are we going to get milk? A seacow, -maybe? Wish we’d kept some of them. We could -have had an oyster roast.”</p> -<p>“Wrong again, Biff,” Charlie said. “Pearl oysters -aren’t edible. These would make you so sick, you -wouldn’t be any good for ten days.”</p> -<p>“What a waste!” Biff said, and stretched out on -the sand. Every muscle, every bone in his body ached.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_132">132</div> -<p>All three went to bed that night right after supper.</p> -<p>Biff, having slept heavily, awoke just as dawn broke. -He thought he had been awakened by the sound of a -boat’s motor. He listened intently. No sound. Biff -turned over on his narrow cot, determined to get -back to sleep. He was just drifting off when he -heard a sound outside the tent, just beyond where his -cot touched the inside of the tent wall.</p> -<p>He waited tensely. The sound was only a faint -rustle. He saw the side of the tent stretch as if something -was crawling underneath it. Biff raised himself -on one elbow, ready to sound the alarm.</p> -<p>As he watched, in the faint dawn light, a thick, -snake-shaped object slithered up between his cot and -the tent’s side.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_133">133</div> -<h2 id="c20"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XX</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Enemy Invasion</span></h2> -<p>Biff moved quickly, noiselessly out of his cot. In -the increasing daylight, he could see that the strange -object slithering over his bed was a huge arm. He -went over to his uncle, shook him gently, and when -Charlie Keene roused, Biff cautioned silence, pressing -a finger to his lips. Biff pointed to his cot.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene saw the arm and was up in a flash. -From under his pillow he took a gun. This action -startled Biff even more than the mysterious arm. He -had no idea that his uncle thought they were in such -danger that there was reason for keeping a gun close -at hand.</p> -<p>“Stay here,” Uncle Charlie whispered. “I’ll slip -outside.”</p> -<p>Biff kept his eyes on the arm. He saw the arm slide -over the cot, saw the hand feel it. The hand withdrew -quickly, the arm slipped back outside the tent.</p> -<p>“Hold it!” Biff heard his uncle command. This -stern order was followed by an amazed “Why, what -the—what are you doing here! Biff! Come running!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_134">134</div> -<p>Biff leaped out of the tent. In the morning light, he -saw his uncle holding a gun on the giant Carib -Indian, Crunch.</p> -<p>“Crunch!” Biff’s astonishment turned to delight at -seeing his simple, friendly enemy again. “What in the -world? Why did you sneak up on us like this!” he exclaimed.</p> -<p>Crunch stepped over to Biff.</p> -<p>“Not know who might be in tent. Want to find my -friend, you. Have story of big trouble for you and -your friends.”</p> -<p>“What is it, Crunch? Tell me.”</p> -<p>“It is boss Dietz. See Crunch in Trinité. Make -Crunch come back and work for him. Last night, -Dietz and Specks make camp on next island.” Crunch -pointed in the direction of an island about half a mile -away.</p> -<p>“They leave Crunch to guard camp. But Crunch -hear them talk. Tonight, when you all asleep, they -come to this island. They going to break up your -boats. Crunch wait until they far away, then come -over here to give warning. Dietz bad man, very—”</p> -<p>Crunch left his sentence hanging in air. He stared -in disbelief at the front of the tent.</p> -<p>He was looking at Derek. His eyes swung from -Derek to Biff, then back to Derek and back again -from one boy to the other.</p> -<p>“Is more magic!” Crunch howled, terror in his -voice. He turned to run.</p> -<p>“Wait, Crunch. Stop.” Biff ran over to the Indian -and took him by the arm. “It’s no more magic. There -are really two of us. Me—I’m Biff. That’s my name. -He’s my friend Derek. Come here, Derek.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_135">135</div> -<p>Derek joined them.</p> -<p>“Touch him, Crunch.”</p> -<p>Crunch’s hand went out carefully. He touched -Derek, then drew his hand back quickly.</p> -<p>“You see, Crunch, he’s not a ghost, not a spirit. -He’s a real person. Just like I am. The only thing, -we look very much alike.”</p> -<p>Crunch could only shake his head. If his faith in -Biff had not been so great, he would have turned and -fled.</p> -<p>“All right, Crunch. You believe me? You know -you’re not just seeing things?”</p> -<p>Crunch nodded his head slowly.</p> -<p>“Okay, Crunch. We want to thank you for giving -us this warning.”</p> -<p>“No want you to get hurt. Now Crunch go before -boss comes back.”</p> -<p>Biff and Derek walked to the edge of the water with -Crunch.</p> -<p>“I’ll fix some chow,” Uncle Charlie called.</p> -<p>The boys watched Crunch climb into a small dory -and row off. He was facing them as he pulled away, -and he was still staring from one boy to the other.</p> -<p>“What do we do now?” Biff asked when he and -Derek rejoined Charlie Keene.</p> -<p>“We carry on as if we knew nothing. We’ll explore -another place this morning. We’ll go to Trinité this -afternoon and replenish our air and food supplies. -Tonight, we’ll be ready to give Dietz an unexpected -reception.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_136">136</div> -<p>The pearl diving that morning was no more productive -than it had been the previous day. Noon -found the three in the cabin cruiser, heading for -Trinité. In town, Derek left Biff and his uncle. He -was off on his quest for his father.</p> -<p>The three met again at the prearranged hour of six -o’clock and embarked for the return trip to their -island camp.</p> -<p>Tension mounted as the evening hours on the island -dragged slowly by. At 11 <span class="sc">P.M.</span> Charlie Keene arose -from his cot. He had ordered Biff and Derek to try -and rest.</p> -<p>“Let’s go.”</p> -<p>The boys followed Uncle Charlie down to the -cabin cruiser and the dory.</p> -<p>“You both know what you’re to do?” he asked.</p> -<p>“Yes, Mr. Keene,” Derek replied.</p> -<p>“All set, Uncle Charlie,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“Crunch may or may not be with them. I imagine -he will be. But I’m sure we don’t have to worry about -him now. Okay, Derek, into the cruiser. Biff, you and -I will hide behind the dory. Derek, you know when -to start and what to do.”</p> -<p>“I do.”</p> -<p>“All right. Take your positions.”</p> -<p>Derek waded out and climbed aboard the cruiser. -Biff and his uncle dug into the sand on the beach side -of the dory.</p> -<p>Their wait began. It seemed endless. Biff kept -glancing at the illuminated dial of his watch. Twelve -o’clock. Twelve-thirty.</p> -<p>“Think maybe they found out that Crunch warned -us?” Biff asked in a low voice.</p> -<p>“I don’t think so, Biff. How would they?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_137">137</div> -<p>Just after one o’clock, Biff and his uncle came alert. -From a distance over the water, they heard the sound -of a boat engine. It grew louder as the boat drew -nearer. Then the sound stopped suddenly.</p> -<p>Biff was puzzled.</p> -<p>“Engine trouble, or have they given up the idea?” -he whispered.</p> -<p>“Wait,” his uncle whispered back.</p> -<p>After a few minutes, a new sound came to their -ears: the sound of oars rasping against oarlocks, the -soft splash of oar blades dipping in and out of the -water.</p> -<p>Biff knew now why the engine had been cut—so -Dietz could approach without awakening his prey.</p> -<p>The sound of a boat grating gently on sand was -heard next. Dietz and Company had made their landing. -Biff and his uncle could hear two men conversing -in low voices. The voices came nearer. The enemy -was standing directly across from where Biff and his -uncle lay hidden behind the dory.</p> -<p>“Walk up toward the tent, Crunch.” It was Dietz’s -voice. “Keep them from coming down here if they -wake up. Okay, Specks, start drilling.”</p> -<p>That was the plot! Drill holes in the dory. Make it -unfloatable. What devilment had they planned for -the cruiser? These thoughts flashed through Biff’s -mind.</p> -<p>Just as Specks lifted one leg over the gunwale, -Charlie Keene, still hidden, let go with his automatic. -Eight shots in rapid succession shattered the night -silence.</p> -<p>From the cabin cruiser came blast after blast from -the boat’s foghorn. <i>Hurrammppp!</i> ... <i>Hurrammppp!</i> -... <i>Hurrammppp!</i></p> -<p>Specks leaped out of the dory.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_138">138</div> -<p>“They’re laying for us,” Dietz shouted. “Run for -the boat!”</p> -<p>Uncle Charlie had slipped in another cartridge clip, -and this time his eight rapid-fire shots were aimed just -over the heads of the fleeing Dietz and Specks. Derek -kept working the foghorn. The noise tore at the -night.</p> -<p>Dietz slipped and fell into the water as he jumped -for his boat. Specks was frantically shoving it off -the beach. Dietz scrambled in. Bullets from the automatic’s -third clip were stinging the water around -Dietz’s boat like angry wasps.</p> -<p>The frightened pair finally got their engine started, -backed off at full throttle, swung around and headed -out to sea.</p> -<p>The foghorn continued its angry growling.</p> -<p>“Okay, Derek,” Uncle Charlie called. “Lay off. -They’re long gone.”</p> -<p>Derek joined Biff and his uncle, and they watched -the light of the fast-disappearing boat. Then, the tension -relieved, the three sank down on the sand and -howled with laughter.</p> -<p>When Biff was finally able to control his laughing -spell, he got up with a start.</p> -<p>“Crunch!” he exclaimed. “What happened to him? -I didn’t see him get in the boat.”</p> -<p>“He’s probably halfway across the Atlantic by -now,” Charlie answered. “Swimming his lungs out -to get away from the evil spirits.”</p> -<p>A search of the small island was started. Crunch -was found on the far side, cowering behind a small -sand dune.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_139">139</div> -<p>Once the giant Indian had been calmed down—and -Biff had to work hard on him to convince him the evil -spirits had fled—Crunch fell to his knees and with -outstretched arms, said to Biff:</p> -<p>“Please. Crunch stay with you now, work for you? -Do anything you say. Crunch afraid to go back to -boss Dietz.”</p> -<p>“Good for you, Crunch. Glad to have you join -us.”</p> -<p>The four walked back to the tent.</p> -<p>“I don’t know where you’re going to sleep, Crunch,” -Biff said doubtfully.</p> -<p>“Crunch not sleep—stand guard outside tent,” the -Indian replied.</p> -<p>Biff turned to his uncle. “What’s Dietz trying to -accomplish now?” he asked.</p> -<p>“Harassment, Biff. Stalling. Working out a plan. -First of all, he wants to be around when we locate -the exact spot of the pearl fishery. Then—well—”</p> -<p>“Then what, Mr. Keene?” Derek asked.</p> -<p>“Nothing to worry about, Derek.”</p> -<p>“You’re holding something back, Mr. Keene. I want -to know the truth. I want to know what I’m in for.”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene spoke in a quiet voice. But his words -were chilling.</p> -<p>“As far as he knows, your father is gone, Derek—if -Dietz can get rid of <i>you</i>, then the claim becomes -open again.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_140">140</div> -<h2 id="c21"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXI</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A Gay Deception</span></h2> -<p>Although the attack by Dietz and Company had -had a comic ending, Biff, his uncle, and Derek realized -that the next such attack might have more serious -consequences.</p> -<p>The three had settled down on the soft white sand. -No one spoke, their minds whirling with thoughts -of Dietz. The giant Indian, Crunch, was a few feet -removed, squatting on his huge haunches and chewing -on a piece of salt grass.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene looked at his nephew.</p> -<p>“Doing some heavy thinking, Biff?” he inquired.</p> -<p>“Trying to, Uncle Charlie. Look ...” he paused, -then went on. “I have a feeling that since Dietz failed -on this try, he’ll grow even more desperate. I mean, -the next time he tries, he probably won’t be so -easy to scare off.”</p> -<p>“You’re absolutely right, Biff.”</p> -<p>The boy was silent again. He wanted to be clear in -his own mind before he advanced the proposal he had -outlined to himself.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_141">141</div> -<p>“Derek, I don’t want you to be offended by what -I’m about to say. It’s just that I want to get my thinking -clear. Okay?”</p> -<p>“Nothing you could say, Biff, could make me feel -angry with you.”</p> -<p>“Thanks, Derek.” The two boys looked at one another -in the starlit night. The bond of friendship between -them had grown stronger with each passing -day.</p> -<p>“It’s this, Derek. Finding the pearl fishery is of -secondary importance to you. Finding your father -comes first.”</p> -<p>“You know that, Biff.”</p> -<p>Charles Keene waited. He knew his nephew was -cooking up a plan. He also knew that most of Biff’s -plans had merit.</p> -<p>“Well, then,” Biff continued. “As I see it, we’re -faced with two big problems. First, if we abandon -our search for the pearl fishery, to devote all our -time to looking for your father, then we give Dietz -a wide-open field to try to find the fishery. That’s -not good.”</p> -<p>“No, it isn’t, Biff. But I must find my father,” -Derek replied earnestly.</p> -<p>“Very true, Biff,” Uncle Charlie said. “It’s quite a -problem.” Charles Keene offered no suggestions. He -was anxious to see how his nephew would attack the -problem, what solution he might come up with.</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie, a few moments ago you used the -word ‘harassment.’ You said that would be the chief -tactic used by Dietz to delay our locating the pearl -fishery,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“He’ll double his efforts if I’m any judge. What’s -on your mind?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_142">142</div> -<p>“If we can pull it off—” Biff was thinking out loud.</p> -<p>“Pull what off, Biff?” Derek asked.</p> -<p>“I’ve got a plan. I want to know what you and -Uncle Charlie think of it.”</p> -<p>“Fire away, Biff,” his uncle invited.</p> -<p>“It’s this. Suppose tomorrow, we pretend to find -the fishery. We’ll fire off guns. Blast off on the boat -horn. Dance around the beach like mad. In full sight -of Dietz, of course. Make him think we’ve located -the site. Only, of course, we’ll do all this where we -know there are no pearls. We’ll put on our act at -one of the first places we tackled, before Dietz -became so vigilant. What do you think?”</p> -<p>“You’ve got something there, Biff. I’m proud of -you,” Biff’s uncle replied.</p> -<p>“It would be fun, too, to fool Dietz,” Derek -chimed in excitedly.</p> -<p>“To make it even more convincing,” Biff went on, -“we could break camp tomorrow afternoon. Pull out -fast. Dietz wouldn’t follow us immediately. Not until -he’d done some diving and oyster shucking himself. -He’d surely want to make certain we had located the -fishery.”</p> -<p>“You’re darn right he would,” Charles Keene said.</p> -<p>“That would give us a chance to get back to -Trinité, slip out of town, and really concentrate on -looking for your father.”</p> -<p>Biff paused. He looked first at Derek. He felt sure -Derek would be enthusiastic about his plan. Then -he looked at his uncle. He knew his uncle was considering -the plan in every detail.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_143">143</div> -<p>Uncle Charlie finally spoke. “Well, Biff, I like your -plan. You didn’t know this, of course, but I was -getting more and more worried about having you and -Derek on the bottom of the ocean, with Dietz in his -high-powered boat ready to strike at any moment. -Calling off the pearl search for the time being makes -a lot of sense.”</p> -<p>“And maybe we’ll find my father,” Derek said.</p> -<p>“If he’s on the island, we’ll find him,” Charles Keene -said. He spoke with more conviction than he felt, to -cheer the Dutch boy up. Privately, he had many -doubts as to the possibility of finding Derek’s father.</p> -<p>“Crunch go along. Help find lost white man.”</p> -<p>It was the first time the giant Indian had spoken.</p> -<p>Biff shot a fast glance at his uncle. Charles Keene -shook his head. The motion was barely noticeable. -But Biff got it. He knew his uncle had some other -plan for the Carib.</p> -<p>“I don’t know, Crunch,” Biff said. He knew the -Indian wanted to remain in the party. “I think maybe -my uncle has an idea where you could be a lot more -help. Right, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>Charles Keene turned to the Indian.</p> -<p>“If you want to be a big help to us, Crunch, it -would be better for you to go back to Dietz.”</p> -<p>“No like Dietz. Bad man.”</p> -<p>“We know that, Crunch. But, while we’re gone—it -will only be a few days—you can keep an eye on -Dietz. You’d still be on our side, but Dietz wouldn’t -know that. He’d think you were still working for him. -You’d be our spy.”</p> -<p>“Crunch a spy?”</p> -<p>From the tone of the Indian’s voice, Biff could tell -that Crunch was pleased. He liked the idea of being a -spy.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_144">144</div> -<p>“That’s right, Crunch,” Uncle Charlie continued. -“You’d pretend to be still working for him, but you’d -watch everything he did. He might even find the -pearl fishery, and we’d surely want to know about -that. Then, when we got back, you could tell us -everything that had been going on. How about it?”</p> -<p>“Crunch do it. He go now.”</p> -<p>The Indian rose to his feet and faded into the night -for his half-mile swim back to the island camp of the -enemy. Biff wondered what kind of a reception he -would receive from Dietz but felt sure Crunch could -take care of himself.</p> -<p>The next morning the boys and Charles Keene -were up at the first crack of dawn. Over a hasty -breakfast, they went over their plan for the last time. -As the sun boiled up out of the Atlantic, the three -headed out to sea.</p> -<p>It wasn’t long before they saw Dietz’s boat come -into sight, rocking above the horizon off their starboard -side.</p> -<p>“Here we go,” Charles Keene said. “Drop anchor.”</p> -<p>Derek heaved the hook over. Biff was already donning -his diving apparatus. Derek was only a few moments -behind as Biff slipped into the warm waters of -the Caribbean and made his descent.</p> -<p>The boys stayed down for about half an hour. -When they surfaced and climbed aboard, Biff cracked -open an oyster. Immediately, he let out a shout and -danced up and down.</p> -<p>Derek joined in the deception. Charlie Keene put -his head together with the two boys, and for several -moments they carefully inspected an imaginary pearl -in Biff’s empty hand.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_145">145</div> -<p>They all knew Dietz was observing their actions -through powerful binoculars.</p> -<p>With happy shouts that bounced across the waves -and reached Dietz’s boat, Biff and Derek plunged -back into the water. They sent up several more -baskets of oysters. When they surfaced and climbed -back into the boat, they shucked a few more oysters. -Then Charles Keene shook each boy’s hand and -clapped them on the back.</p> -<p>“Up anchor!” Charlie shouted. He started the motor. -The boat raced back to the camp site.</p> -<p>“Look back over your shoulder, Uncle Charlie,” -Biff said.</p> -<p>Dietz had brought his boat into the area just abandoned -by the boys and Uncle Charlie.</p> -<p>“Isn’t he dropping a marking buoy right about -where we were?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“He sure is.”</p> -<p>“Then we did fool him!” Derek sang out happily.</p> -<p>“For the time being, at least. But we’ve got to -move fast. He’ll be sampling oysters from that same -bed as fast as he can.”</p> -<p>The three struck camp quickly. They loaded their -gear into the cabin cruiser. With a triumphant blast -on the boat horn and a burst of shots from Charles -Keene’s gun, they pointed the bow of the cruiser -toward La Trinité.</p> -<p>They passed within a quarter of a mile of Dietz’s -boat. They could see Dietz hauling in lines holding -the baskets of oysters which Specks had filled on the -bottom. They didn’t see Crunch. He must have been -pressed into oyster diving also.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_146">146</div> -<p>Ten minutes later, they could barely see Dietz’s -white boat bobbing on the blue water over the imaginary -pearl bed.</p> -<p>“We pulled it off, Uncle Charlie,” Biff said.</p> -<p>“That we did, Biffo me lad.”</p> -<p>“And now we can hunt for my father,” Derek -added.</p> -<p>“And we’ll find him, too!” Biff said confidently.</p> -<p>Charles Keene frowned. He erased the frown -quickly, but not so fast that Biff missed it.</p> -<p>Biff knew his uncle believed that Brom Zook must -have been lost at sea. The thought sent Biff’s high -spirits plunging downward.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_147">147</div> -<h2 id="c22"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Dashed Hopes</span></h2> -<p>In La Trinité, Biff, his uncle, and Derek moved about -with haste. Following a speedy lunch, they shopped -for enough supplies to last them for their expedition -into the interior of Martinique.</p> -<p>“Step lively, boys,” Uncle Charlie urged. “It won’t -take Dietz long to find out he’s been fooled. And we -don’t want him hounding us on this search.”</p> -<p>“Uncle Charlie,” Biff said, “if Dietz comes into -Trinité and finds our boat still moored in Treasure -Bay, won’t he know we’re still somewhere nearby?”</p> -<p>“That’s a chance we’ll have to take, Biff.”</p> -<p>“But if we took the boat up the coast—got it away -from here—that would cause him further delay, -wouldn’t it?”</p> -<p>“You’re right again, Biff.”</p> -<p>“But why would Dietz want to follow us when -we’re searching for my father?” Derek asked.</p> -<p>“He wants to know about your father as much -as we do. But for different reasons,” Charles Keene -replied, a frown darkening his face.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_148">148</div> -<p>Derek thought this over. “If we learn some bad -news about my father—if we should learn he really -is gone—” Derek gulped. He couldn’t bring himself -to say out loud that they might find out that Brom -Zook was dead. “If that is how our search should -end, then you mean there could be some doubt as to -whether the claim he originally filed is still valid?”</p> -<p>“Afraid so, Derek. I believe your claim would be -supported in time. But there would be delay after -delay as Dietz went to the courts to try to have it -invalidated.”</p> -<p>“I see.”</p> -<p>Biff wanted to get his friend Derek’s mind away -from such depressing thoughts.</p> -<p>“About the boat again, Uncle Charlie. Why don’t -we go around the point, head north along the coast, -and find a sheltered harbor where we could hide the -boat? Then we could head inland from there.”</p> -<p>“That’s what we’ll do, Biff. And let’s do it right -away,” his uncle agreed.</p> -<p>They made a run of about ten miles along the east -coast of Martinique and found a small cove between -Ste. Marie and Marigot. They beached the boat and -covered it with the lacy leaves of the giant fern -trees which grow to a height of twenty feet on -Martinique. Over the ferns they spread palm fronds. -The boat was completely hidden.</p> -<p>From the beach, they could see the peak of Mt. -Pelée, rising nearly five thousand feet in the air.</p> -<p>“Boys, what do you say we make Pelée our first -goal?” Charles Keene suggested. “Your searches -haven’t brought you that far north and east, have -they, Derek?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_149">149</div> -<p>“No, sir.”</p> -<p>“Okay. Let’s move out then.”</p> -<p>Each of the three slung a pack over his shoulders, -and they plunged into the thick tropical growth.</p> -<p>Biff was enjoying himself. If the object of their -search hadn’t been such a serious one, if his feeling -that the search might have an unhappy ending hadn’t -been so strong, then the exploration would have -been even more fun.</p> -<p>Martinique, Biff soon discovered, was truly a beautiful -island, one of the most beautiful places in which -he had ever been. From the top of steep ridges, the -lush, fertile valleys of the island spread out below. -Rugged peaks rose like steeples above the ridges.</p> -<p>In the rich valleys, they crossed through sugar-cane -fields.</p> -<p>Biff took his knife and slashed a stock down. Its -sweet juices oozed out of the slash. Biff pressed the -stock to his lips and sucked deeply.</p> -<p>“Try one, Derek. Tastes good,” he said.</p> -<p>Banana trees grew wild almost everywhere they -went. Derek shinned up the rough, fat trunk of one -tree and yanked down a bunch. He squirreled back -down the tree and plopped on the ground to inspect -his haul. Derek’s hands were exploring the -bunch, trying to select the ripest, fattest banana -when Charlie Keene leaped to his side and struck the -Dutch boy’s arm a sharp blow.</p> -<p>Derek looked around in amazed alarm.</p> -<p>Charles Keene was stamping on a hairy black spider. -He had spotted the ugly insect on Derek’s shoulder -and with one swift blow had knocked the spider to the -ground.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_150">150</div> -<p>“What’s the matter, Mr. Keene?” Derek looked -frightened.</p> -<p>“Close call, Derek. That spider I just knocked off -your arm is called <i>matoutou falaise</i>. That’s the local -French name for the most poisonous spider on the -island. They make their nests in bananas.”</p> -<p>Derek’s face went white.</p> -<p>“It’s all right now. I got him. But after this, be -mighty careful when you pick a banana,” Uncle -Charlie warned.</p> -<p>Now and again the party would pass a small -thatched hut. At each one, they asked questions of the -inhabitants.</p> -<p>“A tall man, very thin, with almost white hair,” -was the description they gave of Brom Zook. “He’s -been missing over three months.”</p> -<p>The natives would only shake their heads. No, -they had seen no such man, nor had they heard of -such a stranger in these parts.</p> -<p>For three days the party trudged up and down -the ridges and peaks of the island. They questioned -a hundred or more people. They went to Deux -Choux, to Morne Vert, Le Lorrain, Grande Rivière, -and towns even smaller. Nowhere did they get any -leads to a missing Hollander named Brom Zook.</p> -<p>By the fourth day of the search, it was plain to -Biff and his uncle that Derek was becoming more and -more discouraged, more and more disheartened. They -tried their best to cheer up the Dutch lad.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_151">151</div> -<p>At the end of the day, they reached the top of -Mt. Pelée. Looking down at the sea, they could pick -out the ruins of Saint-Pierre. Once, Uncle Charlie told -the boys, Saint-Pierre had been the largest city on the -island. Then, in the early morning hours, tragedy had -struck.</p> -<p>“You know the story about Saint-Pierre and Mt. -Pelée, Biff?” Uncle Charlie asked. “You must have -heard it, Derek, when you were growing up in -Curaçao.”</p> -<p>Derek shook his head. “No, I don’t remember it, -Mr. Keene.”</p> -<p>“It was just after the turn of the century, around -1902, I believe. Saint-Pierre then had a population of -thirty thousand people. Early one morning, as the -city slept, Mt. Pelée erupted. It shot forth a sheet of -flame and molten lava. In a matter of only a few -seconds, thirty thousand people were dead. Most of -them died in their beds.”</p> -<p>“The whole city wiped out? In seconds?” Biff -asked incredulously.</p> -<p>“That’s right, Biff,” Charlie Keene said. “There was -only one survivor.”</p> -<p>“How could one person survive when thirty thousand -others perished?” Biff demanded.</p> -<p>“It’s a most unusual story. This person was a prisoner -in Saint-Pierre. He was in solitary confinement. -The cell he was in had stone walls several feet thick. -That’s what saved him. The walls were so thick -they resisted the heat. The prisoner didn’t even know -about the catastrophe until several days later when -rescue crews explored the prison.”</p> -<p>Biff could only shake his head.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_152">152</div> -<p>That night they camped on top of the volcano and -went into Saint-Pierre the next morning. “As you -can see,” Uncle Charlie pointed out, “the town has -been partly rebuilt. But today, only six thousand persons -live here where, fifty years ago, Saint-Pierre had -thirty thousand residents.”</p> -<p>Inquiries were made at the police station. The -three searchers could hardly believe their ears. They -received their first lead.</p> -<p>“No, I do not know the man’s name,” the police -officer said, “but a man of such a description as you -give has been staying in a small pension just outside -the city for the last few months.”</p> -<p>“Where? Where is it?” Derek cried out.</p> -<p>“I will be only too happy to take you there,” the -courteous officer replied.</p> -<p>They rode through the volcanic ruins of Saint-Pierre -toward the gentle slope that led toward Mt. -Pelée. Although some sections had been built up, -there were still plenty of signs of the savage destruction -caused by Mt. Pelée’s eruption over half a century -before.</p> -<p>Derek was in the front seat with the police officer. -Biff and Charles Keene were in the rear seat. Biff -had his fingers crossed. Both the boy and his uncle -were praying that the man the police officer referred -to might be Derek’s father.</p> -<p>The car drew up before a small vine-covered -house. Derek leaped out. The police officer led the -way. Biff and Charles Keene were right behind.</p> -<p>A broad veranda swept round three sides of the -house. The officer made an inquiry, then motioned -Derek to follow him.</p> -<p>Biff was a step behind Derek. At the far end of the -veranda, they could see a man sitting in a high-backed -wicker chair, his back to them.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_153">153</div> -<p>As they approached the chair, Biff kept his eyes on -Derek. The Dutch boy rushed forward and turned -to confront the man in the chair. Biff watched the -expression on Derek’s face.</p> -<p>Biff read his answer from the disappointment which -spread over his friend’s features.</p> -<p>The man was not Brom Zook.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_154">154</div> -<h2 id="c23"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXIII</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Dietz Again</span></h2> -<p>In the morning, the three breakfasted in silence. Biff -wanted to say something to cheer up Derek. But -what was there to say? Derek’s face was white and -drawn. It was plain to see that the Dutch boy had -had little if any sleep the night before.</p> -<p>It was Derek who broke the silence.</p> -<p>“I want to thank you both,” he said. “But I don’t -feel that I can ask you to continue this search any -longer.”</p> -<p>“We’ll go along with you just as long as you want -us to,” Biff spoke up loyally. “Right, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>“Certainly, Biff.”</p> -<p>“No. It’s no use,” Derek continued. “Not in this -section of Martinique. I’m sure that if my father were -anywhere around here, we’d have heard something -about it—some rumor, some tale of a tall white man.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_155">155</div> -<p>“I agree with you there, Derek,” Charles Keene -said. “But there is much of Martinique still to be -searched. The southern part, down around English -Bay. That’s south of the spot where we believe your -father located the pearl fishery. He might have gone -into hiding down that way.”</p> -<p>“You mean, don’t you, Mr. Keene,” Derek said -bravely, “that if he was lost at sea, and washed -ashore, then it would be in that section of -Martinique?”</p> -<p>Charles Keene didn’t reply. Derek had read his -thoughts.</p> -<p>Right after breakfast, the three headed back across -Martinique toward the cove where they had hidden -their boat. It was about a twenty-mile trip, and they -reached the spot just at dark.</p> -<p>“I think we’d better spend the night here,” Uncle -Charlie said. “I don’t know this coast too well. Might -run into a reef if we try to make it to Trinité tonight.”</p> -<p>Exhausted from their long and fruitless search, the -three slept that night under a clear sky, the sleep of -the overtired. The sun was already up and blazing -when they woke. A quick swim refreshed them after -their hard sleep, and half an hour later they were -on their way back down the coast.</p> -<p>They reached Trinité by midmorning.</p> -<p>After mooring the boat, they held a conference.</p> -<p>“What are your plans now, Derek?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Well, we could continue searching for the pearl -fishery. Or—”</p> -<p>“Or we could go south and look for your father,” -Biff completed Derek’s thought.</p> -<p>“What about this?” Uncle Charlie cut in. “Suppose -Biff and I keep on looking for the pearls and you go -off for a few days on your own?”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_156">156</div> -<p>Biff frowned at these words. He knew his uncle’s -intentions were good, but he also felt that if Derek -left them, he’d be cut off from the only friends he -had on Martinique. He’d be lonely and engaged in a -search with his heart heavy at the prospect of what -he might discover.</p> -<p>Biff didn’t quite know how to tell his uncle this. -He didn’t want to contradict him. He didn’t have -to. As he was puzzling a way out of the suggestion -made by his uncle, he heard a shout. He looked in -the direction the hail had come from. Lumbering down -the dock, a broad grin on his strong face, came -Crunch.</p> -<p>The giant Indian was delighted to rejoin Biff, his -uncle, and Derek. Brilliant white teeth glinted in the -sunlight as Crunch wore a perpetual grin on his face.</p> -<p>“What about Dietz?” Uncle Charlie asked.</p> -<p>“Did he locate the pearl fishery while we were -gone?” Biff’s question tumbled out after his uncle’s.</p> -<p>“No find fishery,” Crunch said, still grinning. -“Dietz look hard, though. Very mad when he find -how you fool him.”</p> -<p>“Good,” Biff said. All of them smiled at his news.</p> -<p>“But Dietz do something else,” Crunch went on. -“Him get some kind of paper from government.”</p> -<p>“What do you mean, Crunch? What sort of paper?” -Charles Keene asked.</p> -<p>“Crunch not understand. Ask questions though. -Paper say maybe you don’t find fishery very sudden, -then claim no good any more.”</p> -<p>“How can that be, Uncle Charlie?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“I don’t know, Biff. I’d have to see a copy of it.”</p> -<p>“Copy of paper nailed up in post office,” Crunch -said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_157">157</div> -<p>“What are we waiting for, then? Let’s go!”</p> -<p>They leaped into a native taxi, urging the driver -to speed and more speed. The taxi creaked and -groaned, but it got them there.</p> -<p>In the post office the three read the copy of the -document carefully.</p> -<p>“It’s not so good, is it, Uncle Charlie?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“No, it isn’t.”</p> -<p>“I don’t quite understand it, Mr. Keene,” Derek -said.</p> -<p>“Well, Derek, cutting through the legal phraseology, -it comes down to this: Dietz went to Fort-de-France -while we were searching for your father. -He has challenged your right to the claim, on the -grounds that you’re a minor. How old are you, -Derek?”</p> -<p>“I’ll be eighteen my next birthday.”</p> -<p>“Well, what Dietz has obtained—in legal terms—is -a temporary injunction. It goes into effect five days -from now. At that time, the claim and the working -permit will be suspended until the courts decide -whether Derek is the rightful heir to the claim. I’m -sorry, Derek,” Charlie Keene said soberly, “but Dietz -has obtained this injunction on the grounds that your -father is deceased.”</p> -<p>After a few moments silence, Biff spoke up. “We -still have five days, then, to find the fishery. If we -did, how would that affect the injunction?”</p> -<p>“Well, going back to the unwritten law of ‘finders -keepers,’ Derek would have an excellent chance of -retaining the rights, despite any court battle Dietz -might put up.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_158">158</div> -<p>“What do you say, Derek?” Biff asked. “Shall we -go pearl diving again? I know you want to continue -the search for your father, but—”</p> -<p>“I’m with you, Biff. It’s only five days.”</p> -<p>“And then, whether we find the fishery or not, -we’ll all continue looking for your father until the -case comes up in court.”</p> -<p>“One moment there, young fellow,” Uncle Charlie -cut in. “I’ll continue with Derek. <i>You</i> won’t be here.”</p> -<p>“Won’t be here!” Biff was amazed. “Where am I -going to be?”</p> -<p>“On your way back to Indianapolis.”</p> -<p>“Oh. School. I forgot.” Biff’s face fell.</p> -<p>“But we’ve got five days still. Let’s make the most -of them,” said his uncle.</p> -<p>It took them two hours to restock their supplies, -get air for the diving tanks, and return to the dock. -At the end of the dock, lounging against a mooring -post, was Dietz. He had an evil expression of triumph -on his face.</p> -<p>“Don’t you ever give up?” he said.</p> -<p>Specks hovered behind him.</p> -<p>None of the three answered their enemy. They got -into the boat and prepared to cast off.</p> -<p>“Hey? Come back here! Where do you think -you’re going?”</p> -<p>Dietz’s startled question was directed at Crunch. -Crunch had jumped into the boat with the others.</p> -<p>“Crunch go with friends. No work for bad man -any more.”</p> -<p>“You’ll still be working for me!” Dietz shouted -back in anger. “If you find the fishery, you’ll be -finding it for me, because I’ll win it in court!”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_159">159</div> -<h2 id="c24"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXIV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">Attack from the Deep</span></h2> -<p>For the next three days, activity went on at a -feverish pace. Camp was hastily set up again on the -same island, and even when it was late in the day, -Biff, Derek, and Uncle Charlie would try another spot -hoping to locate the fishery.</p> -<p>They dived from sunup to sundown. The only rest -period for Biff and Derek came when Uncle Charlie -dashed into Trinité to replenish the air tanks.</p> -<p>The piles of shucked oyster shells grew higher and -higher. No pearls were found. The boys worked -desperately against time, but as the first day passed, -then the second, then the third, they worked with -heavy hearts. The time limit was drawing near.</p> -<p>Dietz made no further attacks. He was content -now to fight his battle in the courts. But the pearl -fishers knew he was still in the area. They saw his -boat from time to time. He was keeping his distance, -but he was still watching.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_160">160</div> -<p>However, even by using binoculars, Dietz would -be unable to determine whether the boys located -the pearl fishery. He could only learn this by finding -out the results of the daily diving. He would have to -know what the opened oysters yielded. For this reason, -a nightly guard was kept. Although Dietz was going -to use the courts, the search party didn’t want him to -know if and when they did locate the fishery. Crunch -insisted on taking the night guard duty. He also -worked during the day. Biff often wondered when -the big Indian slept.</p> -<p>Although the danger from Dietz had lessened, -Charlie Keene kept reminding the boys of the danger -that always awaited them when they were diving.</p> -<p>It struck suddenly and viciously on the fourth morning -of their diving.</p> -<p>Biff and Derek were down in forty-eight feet -of water. They had been digging out oysters for half -an hour. Basket after basket had been hauled up.</p> -<p>Waiting for his basket to be lowered to him, Biff -was suddenly spun around by a swirl of water. It -felt as if he had been caught in a whirlpool. Biff -cleared his mask. He looked around. Coming at him -out of the murky dark waters was a giant shark. The -killer swept by within a foot, then turned and slashed -back.</p> -<p>Biff looked frantically for Derek. He saw his glimmering -white shape ten feet away. Approaching -Derek was a second shark.</p> -<p>The sharks hadn’t struck yet. It seemed they were -inspecting their prey, waiting before their razor-sharp -teeth tore at the boys’ bodies. Biff swam quickly -over to Derek. He grabbed his arm and pointed. The -two huge sharks were motionless, their wicked eyes -on the boys.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_161">161</div> -<div class="img" id="pic5"> -<img src="images/p08.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="1116" /> -<p class="caption"><i>Coming at him out of the murky dark waters was a giant shark</i></p> -</div> -<div class="pb" id="Page_162">162</div> -<p>Biff took a deep breath, raised his mask just enough -to clear his mouth, and shouted as loud as he could. -His shout, of course, made no sound. But Biff knew -that the force of the breath expelled by his shout -would send a shock wave in the direction of the -sharks. He had read that this was one of the best ways -of delaying an attack by an undersea monster.</p> -<p>The shout worked. The sharks swam around the -boys in circles. But Biff knew that any second they -would strike.</p> -<p>There was no time now to go by the book in getting -to the surface. Biff jammed his face mask on, quickly -cleared it of water, grabbed Derek by the arm, and -shoved him upward. He himself followed, propelling -himself as fast as he could. Both boys had jettisoned -their belts instantly.</p> -<p>Breaking the surface, Biff gasped to his uncle, -“Sharks!”</p> -<p>Charlie Keene lost no time. He grabbed Derek, -who was closer, and hauled him into the boat. Crunch -lifted Biff in.</p> -<p>They were no sooner in the boat than two shark -fins cut the water, circling nearer and nearer to the -craft.</p> -<p>Biff and Derek lay gasping on the bottom of the -boat. Their rapid ascent had drained their bodies of -oxygen and strength.</p> -<p>Biff’s uncle quickly started the motor and got away -from the spot at full speed. He had seen the size of -the sharks. They were big enough to overturn the -dory if they struck.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_163">163</div> -<p>By the time they reached the island camp, the boys -had somewhat recovered. But Biff was still shaking -as if he had a chill, and Derek’s face was drawn and -white.</p> -<p>The narrow escape the boys had undergone was -not without its reward, however.</p> -<p>All four of the pearl fishers—Crunch was now one -of them—were shucking oysters after a rest and the -noonday meal.</p> -<p>Biff, growing more and more bored with the tough -job of opening and examining oysters, was about to -discard a shell when he noticed a raised protuberance -in the exact center on the shell. He took off his -glove and dug at the raised part with a fingernail. His -excitement grew. Seconds later he dug out an almost -perfectly shaped white pearl.</p> -<p>“I’ve got one! I’ve got one!” he shouted.</p> -<p>The others crowded around him. Biff handed the -pearl to his uncle.</p> -<p>Charlie Keene inspected it carefully.</p> -<p>“I’m no expert, Biff. But the color, and particularly -the shape, of this pearl—I’d say you’ve found -a really valuable one.”</p> -<p>“How much? How much is it worth?”</p> -<p>“I couldn’t tell. Only an expert could. But it’s a -white pearl—they’re the most valuable. And it’s almost -perfectly round. It could be worth several thousands -of dollars.”</p> -<p>“Whoopee!” Biff shouted. “Let me at more of those -oysters!”</p> -<p>Interest quickened. The four worked in silence, but -they worked fast. Oyster after oyster was opened, -carefully inspected, then tossed aside.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_164">164</div> -<p>Derek found the next one. It, too, was perfectly -shaped, but slightly smaller than the one Biff had -found.</p> -<p>It was Crunch who came through with the topper. -A big grin on his face, Crunch came over to Biff and -held our his huge hand. In the center of his palm -was a pearl twice the size of those already found.</p> -<p>“This is it! This is it! Look at Crunch’s pearl!”</p> -<p>Again they all crowded around. This was a real -beauty. It didn’t take an expert to know that Crunch -had found a pearl of great value.</p> -<p>“Think we’ve found it, Uncle Charlie?” Biff asked. -“I mean the fishery Derek’s father discovered?”</p> -<p>“It could be, Biff. It darn well could be.”</p> -<p>Biff looked at Derek. There was a smile on the -Dutch boy’s face. Then the smile disappeared.</p> -<p>“What’s the matter, Derek?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“My father found black pearls,” Derek replied.</p> -<p>“They’re all colors, Derek,” Uncle Charlie told -him. “Actually, the black ones aren’t as valuable as -the white. They’re valuable, all right, especially if -they’re perfectly matched, as those two your father -sent us were.”</p> -<p>“I’d feel a lot more certain that we’d found the -right place if we found some black ones.”</p> -<p>“Let’s go back down when we finish these oysters,” -Biff said.</p> -<p>“With all those sharks?”</p> -<p>“Funny thing about sharks,” Uncle Charlie said. -“Although they are the pearl diver’s greatest enemy, -they can also help produce the pearl.”</p> -<p>“How?” Biff wanted to know.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_165">165</div> -<p>“The best pearl is the perfectly round pearl. The -foreign body which gets into the oyster must be perfectly -round to produce the perfect pearl. These -round objects are the eggs of parasitic worms. The -adult worms are the parasites of sharks.”</p> -<p>“So where you find sharks, you can find pearls?” -Biff asked.</p> -<p>“Not exactly, Biff. What I mean is this: where -there are pearl fisheries, the perfect pearls come from -the eggs the shark’s parasites lay.”</p> -<p>No more pearls were found in the batch dug that -morning. It was growing late in the afternoon. They -decided to go back to the morning’s site, and if no -sharks were in evidence, they’d try half an hour’s -diving.</p> -<p>They returned to the same site. Biff and Derek -went overside. Before they started scooping up oysters, -they made sure no sharks were around. Biff -loaded one basket and sent it up. He saw Derek send -one up. Biff filled another. He looked at his watch. -They’d been down twenty minutes.</p> -<p>“One more basket,” Biff said to himself, “and -we’ll call it a day.” He turned in Derek’s direction -to signal to him that this was the last basket. Roiling -water ahead pushed an alarm button in Biff’s mind. He -increased his speed.</p> -<p>Derek was being attacked savagely by giant band -shells. They swarmed around him, slashing at him -with their claw-shaped, horny shells.</p> -<p>Biff whipped out his knife and shot into action.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_166">166</div> -<p>The giant band shells, many times the size of the ordinary -conch shell, are the only known shell fish to attack -human beings. They have a tough, scimitar-shaped -muscle which they use as a door to close the opening -at the large end of the shell. While other conches use -this muscle only as a door, the giant band shell uses it -as a weapon. The end of the muscle is hooked and razor -sharp. The giant band shell springs at a man, using -a second muscle to propel itself, then slashes and cuts -with its “door.” In moments, it can cut a man’s body -to shreds.</p> -<p>These giants were surrounding Derek. Up close, -Biff could see Derek had already received several cuts. -Biff knew what this meant. Sharks would come racing -through the water, crazed with hunger by the smell of -blood.</p> -<p>Biff slashed away at the band shells with his knife. -It did no good. The giant shells continued their attack, -some of them turning on Biff. There was only -one thing to do. Derek was nearly helpless. Biff -grabbed him. He shoved him upward with all his -strength. Derek disappeared above him. Now the -band shells turned their full attack on Biff. He fought -them off, trying at the same time to rise. Several of -them tried to fasten onto Biff’s legs. He kicked out -desperately. He thrust down with his open hands and -shot upward. The slower moving band shells were -left behind. Biff reached the surface. He lost no time -in scrambling into the boat. Uncle Charlie already had -pulled Derek, bleeding, into the boat.</p> -<p>Biff just made it. No sooner was he in the boat -than the waters around it boiled with maddened sharks, -searching for the source of the blood.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_167">167</div> -<h2 id="c25"><span class="h2line1">CHAPTER XXV</span> -<br /><span class="h2line2">A Double Find</span></h2> -<p>Derek’s cuts from the giant band shells were many -but not deep ones. Biff and his uncle cleaned the -cuts, treated them with a disinfectant, and put Derek -to bed.</p> -<p>The Dutch boy was not seriously wounded, but -he was suffering from shock. The thing to do, Biff -knew, was to keep him warm and quiet. Charlie -Keene gave Derek half a sleeping tablet, and the -boy finally dozed off.</p> -<p>“What a day! Two narrow escapes. We should -never have gone back,” Charles Keene said. “You -didn’t tell me there were clam and conch shells in -that bed.”</p> -<p>“Didn’t know they were dangerous,” Biff replied.</p> -<p>“And just to see if we could find some black pearls,” -his uncle commented.</p> -<p>“Let’s open the oysters we dug,” Biff suggested. -“Derek seems to be all right.”</p> -<p>An hour later, Biff came back to the tent. Derek -stirred restlessly in his sleep. Biff lighted a lamp -Derek suddenly sat upright. Biff went to his side.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_168">168</div> -<p>“You all right, Derek?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>“I—I guess so. I was dreaming. But—” Derek -touched a bandaged cut gingerly. “Sure, I’m all -right.”</p> -<p>“This may make you feel even better.”</p> -<p>Biff held out his hand. He thrust it under Derek’s -eyes. The hand held a black pearl.</p> -<p>The next morning, convinced they had located -Brom Zook’s fabulous pearl fishery, camp was broken. -Gear was stored in the cabin cruiser. The tent was -struck. By noon the four pearl searchers were back -in La Trinité.</p> -<p>The party’s happiness was mingled with sadness. -One adventure was over. Derek’s father’s claim was -safe. The quest had been successful. But Brom Zook, -Derek’s father, was still missing.</p> -<p>“I can’t ask you to stay with me any longer,” Derek -said. “You’ve done more than enough for me.”</p> -<p>“I’ll stick with you as long as you want me to, -Derek,” Charlie Keene said.</p> -<p>“That goes for me, too, Derek,” Biff added, hoping -his uncle would not mention school. “What are you -going to do?”</p> -<p>“I’m going to stay on in Martinique for a while. -I’m going to every town and village on the island -until I make as certain as possible my father isn’t -here. Then—then—” Derek stopped.</p> -<p>Biff knew what his friend was thinking. He knew -that Derek would then have to come to the conclusion -that his father had been lost at sea.</p> -<p>“What about you, Crunch? Where are you going?”</p> -<p>“Crunch go back up mountains. Stay with little -brother for while.”</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_169">169</div> -<p>“You found him? You didn’t tell us that!” Biff exclaimed.</p> -<p>“You too busy finding pearls. Crunch no want to -bother you.”</p> -<p>“Well, we said we’d try to clear your brother. We -still mean to do so, don’t we, Uncle Charlie?”</p> -<p>“We certainly do, Crunch.”</p> -<p>“You come with Crunch to talk to little brother?”</p> -<p>“You bet, Crunch,” Biff replied.</p> -<p>“Maybe Crunch can help Derek too,” the Indian -said.</p> -<p>“How? What do you mean?” Biff demanded.</p> -<p>“Crunch maybe help Derek find father.”</p> -<p>Derek touched the Indian on the arm. “Anything -you do will help, Crunch. But have you any clue?”</p> -<p>“Crunch not sure. Hear about white man up in -mountain called Carbet.”</p> -<p>Derek grabbed the Indian by both shoulders and -shook him. “Tell me! Tell me about the white man,” -he urged.</p> -<p>“Little brother tell story. Little brother live in -mountains, in small shack. Tell about sick white man. -White man come to mountains two months, maybe -three months, maybe more. Long time ago. Get very -sick. Priests take white man in. Maybe your father.”</p> -<p>“Can we go there right now?” Derek asked excitedly.</p> -<p>“Take long time. Hard trip up mountains.”</p> -<p>They started out late that afternoon. Night overtook -the party before their journey was half completed. -Exhausted by the hard day and the excitement -of Crunch’s clue, the first real one Derek had, all -four slept in the open.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_170">170</div> -<p>By midmorning the next day, they reached the -shack where Crunch’s brother Moti lived. Moti told -the same story Crunch had told the day before.</p> -<p>“Is this place far from here?” Derek asked eagerly.</p> -<p>“One hour away,” Moti replied.</p> -<p>From Moti’s description of the place, Uncle Charlie -came to the conclusion it was a small monastery.</p> -<p>Moti led them to it. A bearded monk took them -inside. Derek babbled out the story of his search. The -monk bowed his head.</p> -<p>“Please wait,” he said.</p> -<p>The monk went down a long, narrow passage. He -turned a corner and was out of sight.</p> -<p>Derek’s heart was throbbing. Biff and his uncle -were tense with hope.</p> -<p>Minutes passed. The shuffling of feet was heard. -The monk was halfway back to the waiting group -when another figure came into the passage. He was -tall, gaunt, wasted by illness.</p> -<p>But there was a smile of happiness on his face.</p> -<p>Derek Zook raced down the passageway to meet -his father.</p> -<p class="center"><span class="gs">* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<p>Biff, his uncle, Derek, and his father were sitting -in the patio of the Sans Souci. Hummingbirds darted -in and out of the bougainvillea which poured over -the terrace. It was the afternoon of the day after Brom -Zook had been found.</p> -<p>Brom Zook’s story was short. On the day he had -mailed the letters and pearls to his son and to Charles -Keene, he discovered he was being followed. He had -thought it best to disappear into the hills until his -claim could be filed and acted upon.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_171">171</div> -<p>In the hills, he had become ill of a tropical fever. -He had been found by a monk and carried to the -monastery. There he had lain close to death for -weeks, not knowing what was going on about him.</p> -<p>Only in the last two weeks had he come back to -his senses. The monks had insisted that he stay with -them until he was strong enough to travel.</p> -<p>“Well, I guess that about winds up my stay here -in the Caribbean,” Biff said. “I’ve got to get back to -good old Indianapolis and school.”</p> -<p>“We’ll hate to see you go, Biff,” Derek said. “Won’t -you come back and visit us?”</p> -<p>“Or maybe you could come to Indianapolis,” Biff -invited.</p> -<p>“I’d like to,” Derek said eagerly.</p> -<p>“One more piece of business,” Uncle Charlie cut in.</p> -<p>“What’s that, Keene?” Brom Zook asked.</p> -<p>“I’d like to make sure that we found the same pearl -fishery you discovered.”</p> -<p>“Good idea.” Brom Zook glanced at his watch. -“I’m anxious to get back to Curaçao. Why don’t you -get everything ready, and the boys and I will take a -run down the coast in the boat? They can show me -their spot.”</p> -<p>“Good. You ought to be back in a couple of hours. -I’ll find Crunch, and he can help me,” Charlie said.</p> -<p>“What about Crunch, Uncle Charlie? Is he going -back with us?”</p> -<p>“No, Biff. He’s going to stay here until I send back -word about his brother. I talked to Moti. I feel sure -we can straighten things out in Curaçao.”</p> -<p>“Tell Crunch and Moti they can count on that,” -Brom Zook said.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_172">172</div> -<p>The run down the coast was a pleasant one. Biff -steered the cruiser over the spot where they had -located the pearls.</p> -<p>“Does this look like the place, sir?” Biff asked.</p> -<p>Brom Zook took a sight on an island to the cruiser’s -portside.</p> -<p>“This is it, all right. And there should be thousands -of dollars’ worth of pearls beneath us.”</p> -<p>As Biff, Derek, and his father were approaching -the harbor in Baie du Trésor, they saw Dietz and -Specks in their boat, heading in the direction of the -pearl fishery.</p> -<p>“Won’t do them any good now,” Brom Zook said. -“The injunction he obtained has been cancelled.”</p> -<p>They watched the boat until it was nearly out of -sight.</p> -<p>“Look!” Derek shouted excitedly.</p> -<p>Brom Zook and Biff looked in the direction Derek -was pointing. They saw the ugly, menacing clouds, -forerunners of a <i>chabasco</i>.</p> -<p>“It’ll strike in a few moments,” Brom Zook said.</p> -<p>“And right at the spot we last saw Dietz,” Biff -shouted. The winds were already getting heavier -in the harbor.</p> -<p>“We can do nothing to help them. We’re too far -away.” Derek’s father said soberly.</p> -<p>The <i>chabasco</i> struck. Dietz’s boat was right in the -center of its fury. There was little chance that he -and Specks would escape the storm’s vengeance.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_173">173</div> -<hr class="dwide" /> -<h3 id="c26"><span class="ss"><i>A Biff Brewster Mystery Adventure</i> -<br />MYSTERY OF -<br />THE CARIBBEAN PEARLS</span></h3> -<p class="center">By ANDY ADAMS</p> -<p>A mirror-image “twin” with a Continental -accent, a pair of matched <i>black</i> pearls -coveted by a sinister would-be claim-jumper, -and a mammoth Carib Indian who -refrains from crushing a man at the command -of “voodoo” spirits confront Biff -Brewster when he leaves his Indianapolis -home to answer an urgent SOS from his -uncle, Charles Keene.</p> -<p>Keene, on a trouble-shooting assignment -in the Netherlands, Antilles, sends the SOS -in a desperate, last-ditch attempt to save -a valuable pearl fishery, belonging to his -friend, Brom Zook, from being “staked” by -thieves. Zook, who must prove his right to -the pearl fishery claim within the set time -limit, has mysteriously disappeared.</p> -<p>Biff and Derek, Brom Zook’s seventeen-year-old -son, accidentally board the same -plane in Miami and innocently exchange -“identities” to play a joke. However, the -joke backfires when Biff is kidnapped at -the Willemstad Airport by the unscrupulous -adventurers who want the pearl fishery.</p> -<p>But Biff, no stranger to mystery or challenging -situations, uses his head and his -courage at the crucial moments. His adventures -in captivity, his use of “voodoo” to -engineer escapes, his repeated changes of -identity with his “twin,” Derek, their search -for the lost pearl fishery and its rightful -owner, and their final triumph over their -adversaries are component parts of the tale -told in <i>Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls</i>.</p> -<div class="pb" id="Page_174">174</div> -<h3 id="c27">The -<br /><span class="xlarge">Bret King</span> -<br />MYSTERY STORIES</h3> -<p class="center">By DAN SCOTT</p> -<h4 id="c28">THE MYSTERY OF GHOST CANYON</h4> -<p>Truck rustlers butcher cattle on Rimrock -Ranch, confronting Bret with Western outlaws -who combine thievery with science to -outwit the law.</p> -<h4 id="c29">THE SECRET OF HERMIT’S PEAK</h4> -<p>When a wild mountain lion and a gang of -thieves invade Desolation Peak at the same -time, Bret unlocks the fascinating secret of -the mountain.</p> -<h4 id="c30">THE RANGE RODEO MYSTERY</h4> -<p>From the moment the cow town of Tovar -plans a revival of its colorful local rodeo, -trouble stampedes Rimrock Ranch, until Bret -outsmarts a band of big-time gangsters.</p> -<h4 id="c31">THE MYSTERY OF RAWHIDE GAP</h4> -<p>Bret and his plane become involved in an -international mix-up, uncovering a bizarre -underground plot aimed at the federal government -of the United States.</p> -<h4 id="c32">THE MYSTERY AT BLIZZARD MESA</h4> -<p>The Navajo reservation is snowbound, and -Bret King and his friends join the emergency -airlift, only to run headfirst into treachery -and skulduggery.</p> -<h4 id="c33">THE SECRET OF FORT PIONEER</h4> -<p>Bret King and his friends become interested -in a “jinxed” movie company which has been -hampered by bad weather, bad tempers, and -a series of sinister mishaps.</p> -<p class="tbcenter">GROSSET & DUNLAP, <i>Publishers</i> -<br /><span class="sc">New York 10</span>, N. Y.</p> -<div class="img"> -<img src="images/endpaper.jpg" alt="Endpapers" width="1000" height="776" /> -</div> -<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> -<ul> -<li>Silently corrected a few typos.</li> -<li>Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.</li> -<li>In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.</li> -</ul> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYSTERY OF THE CARIBBEAN PEARLS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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