had to
try. Chahda, tell Captain Lim what you found out in Davao, and I'll give
him Okola's message."

The exchange of information completed, Zircon changed the subject. The
scientist knew they were in need of something to take their minds off
the search for a while, and he encouraged Captain Lim to tell them about
Zamboanga and its long and sometimes bloody history.

The officer turned out to be an entertaining story-teller. He kept them
laughing, or on the edges of their chairs until after midnight. Then he
began teaching them the famous song that goes:

_The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga!
The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga!
The monkeys have no tails;
They were bitten off by whales!
Oh, the monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga!_

The Spindrifters had just gotten into the swing of the rollicking melody
when a sergeant came in with a message for the captain. Lim tore the
envelope open and read rapidly. Then he slapped his hand on the table.
"Good! This is from Major Lacson. A boat answering the description of
the _Sampaguita_ was seen about four days after the kidnaping, heading
south of the island of Bulan. A fisherman saw it."

Rick's heart leaped with sudden hope and excitement. "Where is Bulan?"

"Across the Strait from here is Basilan. Bulan is a small island south
of it."

Scotty said with relief, "At least we know now which way they're
heading."

"And we know what to do next," Zircon added.

"We go after it!" Chahda concluded grimly.

CHAPTER VIII

The "Swift Arrow"

Jose Santos' boatyard was not large, but to Rick it seemed as though the
Filipino boatman had a sample of every kind of craft from a rowboat to a
Chinese junk.

"We want a boat," Zircon stated. "Not a sailboat. That would be too
slow. We want something reasonably fast, and with enough room for
comfort. We may have to live aboard for some time."

Santos nodded. "You no care how big?"

"There are four of us to handle it."

"Plenty," Santos said. "No more help needed for my _Swift Arrow_. See
over there?"

Rick's quick eyes caught the lines of the craft first. He exclaimed,
"Well, I'll be a galloping grampus! It's a torpedo boat!"

"Yes," Santos confirmed, beaming. "Motor torpedo boat. I convert her
myself. Come see."

Chahda asked, "Rick, what is torpedo boat?"

"It's a very fast, light boat, designed to launch torpedoes at bigger
ships. It depends on speed for safety. This one must be le