ng the prisoner to
the _Richard's_ darkened cockpit where he lay huddled in a heap.

As Gregory rowed away in the direction of the shore, Billings veiled an
electric torch and allowed its tiny ray to fall full upon the face of
the quivering prisoner.

"A greaser," he whispered to the girl. "Look. He's scared to death."

Dickie looked quickly at the crumpled little figure. Then she fell on
her knees close beside the man and peered intently into his shriveled
face. For an instant she remained motionless staring into the face of
the trembling captive.

"My God!" she whispered. "It's Mexican Joe."

CHAPTER XXIX

UNDER ORDERS

"You have seen nothing of the speed-boat from Legonia?"

Mascola shook his head in answer to the question and reached for the
bottle which stood on the table in Bandrist's ranch-house.

Bandrist jerked it away. "Cut that out," he said sternly. "You've had
enough. To-night you have work to do. You must keep sober."

Mascola scowled, glaring angrily at the islander as he went on:

"Mr. Gregory left Legonia at ten-thirty with his speed-boat. There were
five in the launch. Four men and Miss Lang."

Mascola drew in his breath sharply.

"That damned Lang girl," he began. "She is a----"

Bandrist slid from his chair with a quick movement which carried him
wriggling about the table.

"Keep your tongue still," he gritted as he towered over the Italian.
"You talk too much."

Mascola started from his chair, but there was a look in Bandrist's eyes
which made him drop back. A sneering smile played about the Italian's
lips but he said nothing. If Bandrist was a fool about a woman, what
was that to him? He could not afford to quarrel with the islander. Not
yet.

"How did Peters know they were coming here?" he asked after a moment.

"He didn't," Bandrist answered shortly. "But it is only natural that
they should come here. Their boats have been fishing along the north
shore of the island. Your men failed to drive them off."

Mascola flushed.

"My men did drive them off," he contradicted hotly. "Only a few minutes
ago they returned with other boats. I will drive those off too."

Bandrist smiled insultingly.

"Why don't you do it?" he challenged. "To-night is a time I must have
something more than talk. I want you to go down and join your fleet at
once, keep a close watch and if the speed-boat does not arrive within a
half-hour, let me know immediately."

Mascola made no move to obe