nto the hold," said Barry. "But
they didn't bother me, Little. How did you stir 'em up?"

"I don't know. I clambered aboard, thinking to find you there. I just
took a peep down the hatchway and must have interrupted some ceremony.
There was a white man powwowing to 'em--no, it wasn't Leyden--and one of
'em grunted when he saw me, and the white chap sicced 'em after me.
Gosh! but I'm getting all the joy out o' life!"

"I've got all I want for the present," growled Barry sourly. "Perhaps
I'll feel better out of sight of this post and that schooner."

"Not going to quit, are you?" Little gasped, staring at his friend with
horror. "Is this the bold Jack Barry I picked out on the dock fer a
partner?"

"Quit nothing! I'm going to see this thing through, but I'll follow
Vandersee from now on. I wouldn't bother that schooner again on my own
account for all the gold that ever came out of Celebes. If Leyden starts
something, I'll meet him; but for my personal part he is welcome to keep
what he's got aboard there."

In mid-forenoon the _Barang_ yielded to the strain on her hawser and
slid into deep water. A faint breeze downstream filled her sails, and
slowly she swept around the bend out of sight of the post. Barry had
watched the pilotage coming up, and conned his ship down with the
knowledge gained, bringing up abreast of the swampy creek pointed out by
Vandersee shortly after the noon meal. He stared at the place in doubt
for a moment, then cried out to Little with utter relief.

"This is the first time I've felt easy in weeks! See that? Vandersee
said he'd have the entrance cleared. It's like magic. You could float a
thousand-tonner in there now!"

Vandersee had kept his word. The creek, which had been hidden behind a
maze of swamp grass when the _Barang_ entered the river, now lay fair
and open, and a boat sent in to sound reported water enough for her
full-load draft. And as the vessel was slowly warped in, two great
mooring posts were found in the shore at precisely the best place for
her to lay. Still there was no visible sign of the big Hollander
himself.

"Come on down to the entrance awhile," said Barry to Gordon and Little,
when the vessel was moored. "There must be somebody or something to give
us a lead. We were never sent down here just to lie idle, and unless
Leyden means to carry his schooner to sea with those cannibals as crew,
she can't be ready to leave yet."

"I expect you know as much as I do, B