d aboard.
Hobart Zircon and Chahda greeted them with relief.

"We thinking you lost or caught," Chahda said happily. "Glad we wrong."

Zircon added, "We were about to make a run toward shore, hoping to see
you."

"It was the wind," Scotty said wearily. "We had to beat to windward all
the way back. Did you ever try tacking a vinta for hours against a stiff
breeze?"

Rick slumped down on a convenient bench. "Save the talk for later. We'd
better get out of here. It's nearly daylight."

"You're right!" Zircon hurried to the controls and headed the _Swift
Arrow_ south. Gradually he opened the throttles until, at a safe
distance from the island, the MTB was moving at full-cruising speed.
Only then did the four take time to talk.

"Any radio contact?" Rick demanded.

Zircon's wide grin answered him.

"Are they all right?" Scotty yelled.

"Yes. Want to say hello?"

Rick jumped for the radio unit the scientist held out, and plugged in
the earphone. Scotty took Chahda's set.

"Rick and Scotty here," Rick called. "Do you hear us?"

Tony Briotti's familiar voice answered. "Rick and Scotty! You two young
cliff hangers! What took you so long to get back? Zircon kept us posted,
and we were worried sick. We kept watching the village, expecting you to
be hauled in as prisoners."

Rick explained about the unfavorable wind, and Scotty added, "Besides,
we took it easy crossing the volcano. We hammered spikes in a few rough
places to make it easier when we come back for you."

"You can't," Tony said swiftly. "Boys, believe me, we're grateful for
the attempt, but you can't get away with it. There's a lookout in
position to see us at all times, and there's no way you can sneak up on
him. I've told Zircon this. You must not try!"

"How is Dr. Shannon?" Rick asked.

"Fine. We're all fine, although we could use a bath and some home
cooking. But don't try to change the subject, Rick. You must not try to
get us out of here. You'd end up in this prison, if not dead."

Rick could see that the conversation was leading nowhere, and he knew
now that the scientists were all right. "We're tired, Tony," he said
wearily. "It's been a rough night."

"All right, boys. One of us will be awake at all times, so call us
whenever you wish."

Zircon looked at them anxiously as they put the radio units away. "How
about it? Is Tony right?"

"Right as radishes," Rick assented. "The lookout is where we can't reach
him, except with a gun, and