as already
well within the channel.

"They're intercepting us front and rear!" Scotty yelled. "Look!"

The vintas on the ends of the line had moved rapidly, and the rest
followed. The MTB would soon be surrounded! Rick spun the wheel and
turned the big boat nearly in its own length, heeling far over. In the
same instant a rifle slug splintered wood on the cabin roof overhead.

Scotty jumped for his rifle and started firing. Zircon hauled the
automatic from his belt and yelled, "Gun it, Rick!"

Rick didn't need the advice. He straightened the MTB out and rammed the
throttles to full speed. Slugs smacked into the hull or blossomed as
stars on the glass of the pilothouse. He made the MTB dance through the
water at top speed. His evasive action made it hard for Scotty and
Zircon to fire accurately and they stopped.

In a few moments they were out of range of the vintas. Zircon called out
a new course that would take them through another channel more to the
west. It was longer, but safer.

The three remained silent while Rick got on the new course. Attack by
vintas in open water was about the last thing any of them had expected.

Finally Zircon slipped the clip from his pistol, ejected the shell in
the chamber, and reloaded. The scientist said severely, "Mr. Scott, on a
certain occasion at Zamboanga yesterday, you were heard to make a remark
to the effect that piracy has been dead for a century. In view of our
recent experience, I believe it is only fair to offer an opportunity to
correct the record."

Scotty bowed ceremoniously. "You are most kind, Dr. Zircon. It would
perhaps be more accurate to state that piracy has not been dead for a
century. My conclusion is entirely empirical, of course, but observation
leads me to conclude that the vintas in the channel may indeed have been
manned by pirates."

"Handsomely said, Mr. Scott. You have a comment, Mr. Brant?"

"I concur," Rick said gravely. "Would you care to hazard a surmise about
the identity of these putative pirates?"

Zircon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "We had no opportunity to remove
shirts and examine backs. Yet I must venture the opinion that the men in
the vintas carry the mark of the mountain."

"And why did they lay in wait for us?" Scotty asked.

"My surmise," Zircon boomed, "is that we are doing exactly the right
thing. They fear our ultimate success. Ergo, they try to remove us."

Rick had to grin. "I've always wanted to hear someone say '