ted Vandersee, with quiet yet utter
authority, "I understand your business to be the care of your employer's
best interests. Your interests concerning Miss Sheldon are not precisely
business, although I am ready to admit without reservation that they do
you credit. In spite of that, I must remind you that Cornelius Houten's
vessel is still in the river mud, and your contract calls for her return
to Batavia or a report from yourself that your expedition has failed."
Barry gestured wildly, bursting to speak, and Little looked on with a
puzzled grin.

With a soothing smile the Hollander concluded: "Personally I don't
believe Miss Sheldon has gone far away. She certainly is not with
Leyden. So let me assume responsibility for immediate search for her.
You shall be kept informed. At present my business is with you
entirely--oh, you too, Mr. Little--and I have come a long distance to
see you, since my messenger informed me of your near recovery. If you
will walk back to the post with me, I have a plan to lay before you
which will be in keeping with your real business and at the same time
help along the work of cleaning up my own affairs."

Together they retraced their steps, Little accepting the sudden switch
with his usual good temper, Barry gradually coming out of his dark mood
under the influence of Vandersee's quiet, capable presence that refused
to notice temper just then. They reached the main hut and found Gordon
seated at the table--his own old table of trading days--looking fit and
well, but wearing an air of intense boredom. He rose as they entered,
and Vandersee stopped him with outstretched hand.

"Stay here, Gordon," he said, with a kindly smile; "you look almost
ready for work, hey? Feeling fit again?"

"Fit as a fiddle, thanks to you and Ju--Mrs. Goring," replied Gordon, in
a voice that rang with the pressure of clean, healthy lungs. "I want to
do something. I'm infernally weary of this booby trap, playing hospital,
and climbing trees to go to bed, and laying around like a pampered
Sybarite. I'm coming out with you when you start again!"

"Not with me, yet," smiled Vandersee, and his eyes twinkled with
pleasure to see Gordon's complete rejuvenescence. Little and Barry, too,
stared amazedly at the change in the man, although they had seen
something of him during their own sicknesses and might have been
prepared for his improvement. "But I have plenty of work you can do, if
you don't mind chipping in with th