pick it up. It's still on its side. That's why I noticed
that the earth scanner wasn't there."

"If we needed any proof that Angel is a bad one, probably in cahoots
with Nangolat, we have it. Scotty, what are we going to do?"

"Call the cops," Scotty said grimly. "Now we have a theft to report." He
strode for the phone, but before he could pick it up there was a sharp
ring. Scotty answered. "Yes?" He listened, hung up hastily, and turned
to Rick.

"The clerk says there's a Filipino in the lobby who wants to see us.
Says he knows us."

"Chahda! It must be. He's posing as a pagan of some kind, and we don't
know any other Filipinos."

Rick's thoughts were expressed as he and Scotty ran down the hall, then
took the stairs four at a time.

"That's not Chahda!" Scotty pointed to a big Filipino who was striding
back and forth in front of the desk. The man was Scotty's size, and
built in about the same proportions. Around his head was what at first
glance appeared to be a kind of turban. At second glance the boys saw
that it was a thick bandage.

The Filipino saw them and came toward them with quick strides. His face
probably was pleasant most of the time, but now it was grim, his mouth
creased in lines of pain.

"Mr. Brant and Mr. Scott?"

"Yes," Rick said. "And you...."

"I am Angel Manotok!" the Filipino said.

CHAPTER VIII

The Bontoc Road

"Dr. Okola instructed me in what I was to do," the real Angel Manotok
said. "Nangolat was present. He was very helpful. He even gave me the
name of an Ifugao priest who would help us. A man by the name of
Poison."

Angel didn't seem to think the name was odd, so Rick said nothing.

"I live alone," Angel continued. "I went home that evening to pack my
stuff, so I would be ready to go to the hotel to meet you early in the
morning. Nangolat was waiting, and he had a gun. He made me turn around,
then he said, 'Angel, I am sorry. I only do this for the good of my
people, not for myself.' There was a great blow on the back of my head
and I knew nothing more. I woke up in the St. Luke Hospital. They said I
had a fractured skull, at first. But they were wrong."

"Thank heavens," Rick said. "You were lucky."

"So lucky," Angel agreed. "What I can never know is why Nangolat did not
take my head. Before, I thought he was very civilized and intelligent.
But when I saw him in my nipa hut, he was crazy. He did not talk crazy,
but he was. It was in his eyes. When I saw h