This is
nothing but an old well, with ten feet of malaria at the bottom. Show
us, for a change, something that we can believe."

Hal began to laugh quietly. Then all hands stepped forward for another
look down the shaft. As they stepped outside again Benson happened to
turn just in time to see a familiar figure coming along a path near by.

It was Kamanako, better dressed than he had been earlier in the morning,
and carrying a bulging dress suitcase.

"Hullo!" muttered Jack Benson, in a tone loud enough to carry to the
ears of the newcomer. "There's that infernal Jap spy--that scoundrelly
thief of other men's secrets!"

Kamanako halted as abruptly as though he had been challenged by a sentry.
As he saw the young captain a dark, red flush crept into the cheeks of
the little, brown man.

"You talk much," sneered the Japanese his anger rising.

"I say what I think about spies and fellows who would steal other men's
secrets," retorted the young submarine captain.

"You will hold tongue better, if you please," snapped Kamanako.

"I? Hold my tongue for any scamp like you?" taunted Jack Benson.

The taunt had the effect for which Jack wished. Kamanako, looking
furious, dropped his dress suit case and ran angrily forward.

Just in time, as the Japanese bounded through the fringe of weeds,
Captain Jack dodged adroitly to one side.

So Kamanako plunged past him--and, the next instant, there came a
smothered yell from the inside of the well shaft.

"Oh, that was a shame!" came indignantly, from one of the women in the
party of strangers.

But Jack, paying no heed to her, had stepped back to the edge of the
well shaft. Dimly, down at the bottom, he could make out Kamanako,
standing in slimy water that reached nearly up to his arm-pits.

"Is the water fine, eh?" Jack called down, laughingly.

"I show you--some time!" came the answer, in smothered rage.

"You showed me Japanese jiu-jitsu," mocked Benson "so I had to do
something to return your courtesy. What I have just shown you is
called--American strategy!"

By now Kamanako had succeeded in pulling himself part way out of the
water, using his hands and feet on projecting bits of the old masonry.

"You'll get out, in time, for you're a patient fellow," Jack called
down, in a tantalizing kind of encouragement. "Don't forget the name
that I have just given you--American strategy. And, the next time a
fellow tries to make you mad, don't let him do it un