or of the cave lay only a few feet below, faintly discernible in
the yellow light which issued from a hooded lantern. Gregory's eyes
searched the grotesque shadows which fell athwart the rocky floor.

Were there no men in the cave?

For an instant no sound broke the stillness. Then, from the darkness
beyond the lantern, came the shuffling of footsteps and three fishermen
stepped out into the circle of light and dropped to their knees on the
rocky floor.

Gregory's eyes opened wider. The cavern floor was literally covered with
fish. As he sought to fathom the strange actions of the fishermen as
they passed silently up and down the long rows of albacore, the silence
was broken by an angry snarl and the figure of another man leaped out
from the shadow. Rushing upon one of the fishermen, he shook him roughly
by the arm. Then the rays of the lantern fell upon his face.

Gregory's automatic was in his hand as he caught sight of Mascola.
Holding the weapon close against his coat to muffle the click of the
hammer, he cocked the revolver and shoved it forward over the ledge. For
an instant the muzzle wavered, then drew steadily upward until the
sights were in line with Mascola's waistband. What an easy shot it was.
He couldn't miss. What was the matter with his trigger finger? His arm
slowly relaxed. He couldn't shoot the man from the dark.

He'd shoot you quick enough.

I know he would, but----

He murdered your father. He didn't give him a chance, did he?

There was logic in that. The arm which held the automatic stiffened. The
eyes which glinted over the sights, grew hard, then closed to blot out
the hated visage. When they opened again, the temptation had passed and
Mascola was walking again to the shadow.

From the ledge above the cave a bright ray of light followed the figure
of the Italian. Mascola leaped to cover behind a huge rock.

The same instant the roar of a pistol shot deafened Gregory's ear. As
Smith fired into the air to give the signal to the men without, he
cried: "Hands up, men. You're prisoners of the United States."

The flash-light fell from the deputy's hand as an answering shot echoed
from the darkness across the cave. Smith rolled to his side. "Nail 'em,"
he gasped, and tumbled from the ledge.

Gregory slid from the rocks and stumbled to the fish-covered floor of
the cavern. The light from the lantern was suddenly extinguished.
Dropping to his knee, he shot at the flash of a gun ahead. Diml