zoologist in his arms. The mast took the blow of the scientist's great
weight and broke off short, leaving a tangle of sail, mast, and boom.

"Get in!" Scotty yelled at Tony and Torres. His rifle barked at the
pirates further up the beach, driving them to cover again. Zircon put
Shannon down and heaved the pirate Scotty had wounded onto the shore.

Rick followed Tony and Torres into the boat, then yelled for Scotty to
push off. He grabbed the radio unit again and called, "Chahda! What do
we do now?"

"Get little way from shore and go into water. Catch rope when I come.
All must catch! You watch when I toot horn, and you see."

Rick yelled the instructions to the others, then stuffed the set back
into his pocket, dropped his bow, and took a paddle. Scotty knelt beside
him, a length of board in his hand. "Let's go, boy," he said urgently.

Under the impetus of Scotty's initial shove and the boys' paddles the
vinta moved slowly out until it was a good thirty feet from shore. The
nearest of the pirate craft moved to intercept it, four Moros at the
paddles.

Scotty stopped paddling and started shooting. The pirates dropped
paddles and dove to the bottom of the vinta.

Rick looked about anxiously. Where was Chahda?

Then he saw the MTB making a sweeping turn at the northern tip of the
island. As he watched, Chahda straightened out and the bow wave of the
MTB curled as he picked up speed.

"Better get in the water!" Rick called. "Tony, give me the pistol, and
take Shannon's bow and quiver. Better hang them both on your back.
Scotty and I will stay in the vinta and cover you!"

Tony nodded and exchanged weapons. "I'll help Zircon with Shannon. Come
on, Pete. Over the side and swim out a little way."

The Torres boy responded at once, diving headlong into the water. Tony
followed and took Shannon as Zircon handed the injured man down. Then
Zircon got into the water, too, and led the four away from the vinta.

Rick and Scotty watched the tangle of pirate craft, waiting for the next
pirate boat to get untangled and make a try for them. Chahda's bow wave
had left the pirate fleet in a shambles, some of the vintas turned over,
nearly all with sails and booms in a heap on deck or over the pirates.

One vinta extricated itself and the pirates suddenly located the boys. A
Moro raised his rifle to fire and found it smashed in his hands as
Scotty snapped off a shot. The pirate's stock splintered and the force
of the slug s