er way. I'm rather flattered, as a matter of fact. Of
course they know what we're after. It was in the Manila papers. But they
must realize we won't quit until we find Tony and Howard, and they must
be afraid we'll succeed. Otherwise, why attack us?"

Rick saw the sense of Zircon's reasoning. "Then this mysterious island
may not be hard to find, at least for anyone who's really determined."

"That's my guess. Anyway, I think we may be attacked when we
accidentally start toward their base. And it will be an accident, since
we have no clues."

At Siasi the constabulary had no further information of value, except
that the government was showing deep interest and concern about the
pirates. The searchers topped off the fuel and water tanks, and anchored
for the night in the protected harbor. At dawn they hauled anchor and
rounded Siasi.

Zircon laid a course that took them south-south-west toward the
Kinapusan Islands and cautioned all hands to be on the alert. By noon
they had crossed Taapan Passage.

Chahda and Rick were in the galley, cooking hamburgers for lunch. Chahda
was explaining the technique of using the Moro blades.

"Must remember, knife is not just a thing. Is part of your arm. Is
sharp part that just makes arm longer. You no swing knife. You swing
arm, like trying to cut with end of finger. Okay?"

"I get it," Rick agreed. "Don't think of the knife as something
separate. Think of it as part of your own body."

"Yes," Chahda assented. "Next, balancing of knife is important. If is
good, is like part of you. If is bad, can never be part of you. Moro
knives well-balanced. You see..."

Chahda never got a chance to finish.

"All hands on deck! Pirates!" Scotty yelled.

[Illustration: "_All hands on deck! Pirates!_"]

Rick and Chahda piled out of the galley at top speed, Rick grabbing
Shannon's quiver from its hook as he passed. He quickly put the bow
together and strung it, then swung the quiver to his back as he reached
the deck.

Ahead was a line of vintas, already curving in an arc to trap them. Rick
glanced behind and saw that other Moro craft were closing in. They would
be surrounded this time, unless they chose to give up their pretense of
a crippled engine.

"Chahda!" Scotty called. "Take the wheel so I can use my rifle."

The Hindu boy checked to be sure his knives were at hand, then took over
from Scotty, who laid out extra clips and got ready to fire.

Zircon had extra clips for his pis