ght, but inaction, even under
ordinary circumstances, made him restless, and now that two staff
scientists had mysteriously disappeared, his normal desire to keep
things moving swiftly was augmented by fear for their safety.

The Spindrift Scientific Foundation, with headquarters on famed
Spindrift Island off the New Jersey coast, was regarded by most people
as a typical group of scientists, impersonal and efficient, who
sometimes made important discoveries or got involved in scientific
adventures. But the picture of the Foundation, given mostly through
impersonal scientific publications, was wrong.

The scientific efficiency and purpose of Spindrift could not be denied.
But what the public failed to appreciate was that the staff, headed by
Rick Brant's scientist father, was more like a family than a
corporation. The center of activity was the big Brant house and the
adjoining laboratory on Spindrift Island. The scientists were not only
colleagues, but close personal friends.

As a consequence, when the staff zoologist, Dr. Howard Shannon, and the
staff archaeologist, Dr. Anthony Briotti, failed to turn up on schedule
from an expedition to the Sulu Sea, the entire Foundation became
personally concerned. All work stopped while the staff speculated on
what might have happened, what course of action to take.

Rick Brant and his pal Scotty were particularly upset when the days
passed and Hartson Brant failed to decide on a course of action. Rick
knew, of course, that his father was proceeding logically, obtaining
information by cable and phone from the Philippines, but he resented the
passing days.

"I'm glad Rojas is here," Rick said. "That must mean Dad is making up
his mind. And you know what I hope, don't you?"

"Same as I do. But don't hope too much. Maybe Dad will decide this is a
job for professionals, and not for us."

Hartson Brant had returned only a few minutes ago from a hurried trip to
New York. He had brought with him Colonel Felix Rojas of the Philippines
Constabulary. The tall, slender officer was at present on duty with his
country's United Nations delegation. He was an old friend, dating back
to the adventure of _The Golden Skull_ when Rick, Scotty, Chahda, and
Tony Briotti had gone to the fabulous rice terraces of Ifugao.

The colonel was having a belated lunch with Dr. and Mrs. Brant, and
Rick's father had indicated politely but firmly that the two boys were
not to broach the subject of the miss