rican consulate. Chahda, a one-time Bombay
beggar boy, had been a close friend since the Tibet relay expedition. He
was a real wizard at uncovering information.

"Yes," Hartson Brant replied. "I have sent him a cable, through his
organization, but he has not yet replied."

Chahda was now a combination assistant and secretary to the chief Far
East agent for JANIG, the secret government agency charged with the
protection of United States top secrets. The Hindu boy's boss, Carl
Bradley, was an old friend of Hartson Brant. Rick knew that Bradley
would release Chahda at once, if assistance to Spindrift was involved,
not only because of his friendship for the Brants, but because the
island scientists had once helped to solve a case for the Far East
agent. Chahda would be especially helpful in the search for the missing
scientists, because he knew his way around the Philippines and had
friends there. It occurred to Rick that his father had probably wired
Chahda, in care of Bradley, via the Spindrift contact in JANIG--Special
Agent Steve Ames.

Colonel Rojas lighted a Manila cigar and settled back in his chair.
"First of all, let us examine the area in which your friends have
disappeared. Davao is on the island of Mindanao, the largest in the
Philippines. It is peaceful, for the most part, even though we have a
mixture of Moros, Christians, and pagans there."

Rick knew about the Moros, Filipinos of the Moslem faith. They were
known as valiant and deadly fighting men. The pagans were primitive
people, like the Bagobos.

"Davao is a large, fairly modern city. But once outside of the city
itself, the country becomes wild. Some of the Bagobo villages are quite
close to Davao. They are peaceful folk, and quite harmless, but there
are savages in the back country who may not be."

"Perhaps we should take arms," Zircon said.

"I would say so. At least a rifle and a sidearm of some kind."

Scotty spoke up. "I can take my rifle."

"And I can borrow Hartson's forty-five automatic," Zircon added. "That
should be enough."

"True," the colonel agreed. "You can always call on the constabulary for
help. I will give you letters to all commanding officers in the area."

Rick knew that would open many doors, because Rojas was not only a
former commandant of the constabulary, but popular with the entire
force.

"How about clothing, Colonel?" Rick asked.

"I assume you will go by air. That means very little baggage. One
tropical s