hahda's ear. "They'll
give us away sure!"

Chahda shook his head. "Leave to me. Have plenty sad experience with
dogs. I come ready for them."

Rick wondered how the Hindu boy was prepared, but he realized this was
no time for questions. He put his lips close to the hidden radio unit
under Chahda's turban and called softly, "Rick to home base."

"Go ahead, Rick," Zircon's voice said faintly through the heavy folds of
turban.

"We're on the beach, about to leave the vinta."

"Good luck. We're standing by for a fast run if needed. Be careful."

"We will," Rick promised. "Off for now." He drew the automatic from his
sash, pulled back the slide, and let it carry a round into the chamber.
Then he lowered the hammer to half cock and made sure the safety was on.
He tucked the pistol into his sash, and loosened the kris in its
sheath.

Chahda drew his barong and made a few practice swings. The blade gleamed
in the starlight.

Rick led the way, westward along the beach to where the black lava rock
lay in tumbled masses. If they could climb across the tongue of lava,
all would be well. If not, they would have to return to the beach and
swim around it.

The lava was in big chunks, and there were ample hand and footholds. It
was an easy climb to the top of the flow, only about twenty feet above
sea level, and an easy climb down again. The only hard part was moving
across the top of the flow, through the mass of lava boulders.

Presently the two boys stood on soil, still hidden among lava
outcroppings. The village was to their left. In front of them, to the
west, was a cornfield. Rick wasn't surprised to see the corn. He knew
that from the central Philippines south to Sulu there was more corn
eaten than rice.

"Keep an eye open for a guard," he whispered to Chahda. "We'll wait a
few minutes to see if one shows up. Then, if it seems clear, we'll move
along the edge of the cornfield toward the village."

"Good plan," Chahda agreed.

Rick strained to catch sound or motion. When his luminous watch dial
told him five minutes had elapsed, he leaned toward Chahda. "No sign of
a guard. Let's go."

Apparently the pirates were sure attack could come only from the west,
as Zircon had thought.

Undoubtedly they had lookouts on the western shore.

Rick led the way, keeping close to the abrupt rise of the volcanic cone.
He saw there were plenty of gaps and holes in the lava into which they
could duck, as well as the cornfield