lephant?" angrily
retorted Sicto.

"He hasn't spoken to any one yet," said Vincente, significantly. "We
had better get rid of him before--"

A whispered conversation followed, and Alverez finally exclaimed:

"I'll do it! Wait here. Watch Piang." Then he hurried off.

Without approaching Kali, or divulging the secret to any one, Piang
followed the men to the dock, and Sicto laughed softly as he watched
the unsuspecting boy walk into the trap. The little gunboat _Sabah_
was bobbing at her moorings, and Piang joined the crowd that was
gazing in wonder at the strange craft. A shrill whistle, signifying
the _Sabah's_ intention of immediate departure, so terrified the Moros
that some took to their heels while others sought the safety of tall
lamp-posts. Piang was laughing merrily when he was startled by a noise,
and turning, he saw Alverez and a soldier running toward him.

Instantly everything was confusion, and Piang realized that he was
the center of the excitement.

"Are you Piang?" asked the soldier, cautiously approaching him.

"Sure, me Piang."

"Hike! Beat it!" said the man, pointing to the _Sabah_.

What did he mean? Was Piang to be allowed to go aboard the boat?

The soldier made it very plain, finally, that such was the case, but
Piang insisted that he could not depart on a pleasure ride without
getting his chief's permission.

"_Sigi_, beat it, I tell you, _pronto_!" said the soldier impatiently,
emphasizing the command with a push. Almost before Piang realized it,
he found himself on the gunboat, which was slowly moving out toward
the channel. In his hand was a crumpled piece of paper which the
soldier had gingerly thrust into it.

"Here's your passport, kid," he had said with a grin. Piang carefully
unrolled the paper and stared at the queer American characters. A
sailor offered to translate it for him, but when he glanced over the
paper, he uttered a low whistle.

"Say, you go away back and sit down! Don't you come near me or any
one else, sabe?"

Piang recoiled before the look of disgust on the sailor's face. What
was the matter with every one? Why were they all afraid to come near
him, and where were they taking him? He summoned up enough courage to
ask who had written the letter, and when he was told that it was signed
by Governor Findy, he felt reassured. Surely if the good governor was
sending him somewhere, it would be all right. Disconsolately, Piang
crouched in a corner, watching shark