e
down. That way, we won't have to give up our disguise of being a partial
cripple."

"Good idea," Zircon approved. "Suppose you start, Scotty? Rick can
relieve you later."

Rick grinned. "That's what you get for having ideas. Tell you what,
I'll toss you. Heads I take the first watch topside, tails I'll start
making lunch."

"Sold." Scotty produced a centavo and they flipped. Rick won and climbed
to the top of the pilothouse while Scotty went below to prepare
sandwiches.

Rick sat in a canvas chair Zircon handed up to him and watched the sea,
now and then sweeping the horizon with Shannon's long glass. The _Swift
Arrow_ cut the water cleanly, with both engines roaring at
three-quarters throttle.

They were cruising the Celebes Sea now, the Sulu Archipelago rapidly
falling astern. It was a calm, clear day without even a single whitecap
to mar the blue perfection of the sea. Now and then a school of flying
fish broke water from under the MTB's bow, and twice Rick spotted
sharks, one of them a hammerhead. There were no vintas in sight.

Zircon handed up sandwiches and coffee, then relieved Chahda at the
wheel. The Hindu boy's shoulder was healing nicely, but it was still a
little stiff and he was careful not to move his arm more than necessary
for fear of breaking open the wound.

The afternoon wore on without sign of a sail. Scotty relieved Rick, who
relaxed on the afterdeck. The boy glanced at his watch. They should be
picking up the islands soon.

Suddenly Scotty sang out, "Sail ho."

"How many?" Rick called.

"Just one. On the horizon, off the port bow."

Rick relieved Chahda at the helm, and the Hindu boy hurried below,
saying that he wanted a cold drink before the fight started. Rick
watched for the vinta sail, but before the craft was visible from his
lower vantage point, Scotty called out again. "Land! Behind the vinta.
Looks like a coral atoll. I can see the tips of palms."

Zircon checked the chart. "It should be the most westerly of the three
islands," the physicist reported. "Scotty, any more vintas?"

"Just the one."

"Head for the island," Zircon instructed Rick. "We'll want a close
look."

Chahda emerged from the galley with cold cokes for all hands, and they
drank while waiting for the boat to get within examination distance of
the island. It was clearly visible within a short time. As Scotty had
said, it was a coral atoll, the highest point not more than ten feet
above sea level.