ement ran through Rick. "If he did, maybe we've just hit a
jackpot!"

CHAPTER VII

News at Zamboanga

A crowd of Filipinos, including several Moros, was attracted by the
brief fight. A few departed in a hurry after one look at the captive's
bared back. The rest remained at a distance, talking in the local
dialect. Rick and Scotty kept alert, ready to act if anyone tried to
free the captive. Scotty had tied him up with his own sash. He was
seated against the warehouse wall, sullen and silent.

Zircon emerged from the warehouse. "I got the captain on the phone. He's
on his way."

Apparently the captain wasted no time. In less than two minutes his
sedan skidded to a stop and he jumped out. "What is going on?"

"He was trailing us," Zircon said, indicating the Moro. "He also trailed
us in Manila. We thought it best to try to find out why. Incidentally,
an old Chinese is hiding in the warehouse. He ran when he saw the symbol
on the Moro's back. It may be a Chinese character of some sort."

Captain Lim inspected the design and nodded. "It is. I know Chinese.
Those lines form the word for 'shan,' which in English is mountain. But
I have no idea why it should frighten the old man. I will ask."

The three Spindrifters looked at each other, excitement on all of their
faces. "Now we know the word the headman at the Bagobo village used,"
Zircon commented. "Shan, or mountain."

They waited, keeping close watch on the crowd until Captain Lim emerged.
The officer shook his head. "I could get little from him. He fears the
'Pirates of Shan,' of which he says this Moro is a member. He would not
elaborate."

"Who are the Pirates of Shan?" Rick demanded.

"I don't know. The phrase is new to me."

"Silly," Scotty muttered. "Piracy has been dead for a century."

"Not so," Lim corrected. "Excuse me, but piracy is not uncommon,
especially along the China coast and in the islands south of Borneo.
Only a short time ago Chinese pirates captured an ocean-going cargo
ship."

"He's right," Zircon confirmed. "I've read of piracy quite recently. And
don't forget, the Moros of Sulu were a pirate nation until Spanish
gunboats and troops cut down the activity, and the Americans finally
stopped it. Piracy is not new to this part of the world."

Scotty helped Captain Lim put the Moro in the sedan. "I will be
surprised if we get much from this man," Lim said, "but we can try at
the Fort. I will see you at dinner tonight."

The c