nted
to one or two of them, clinging to the mountainside between terraces.
The huts were of straw bundles, discolored by smoke and dust. "The
stores have kerosene, thread, matches, tobacco, salt, oil, perhaps a
little cloth. The Ifugaos do not need much--or, if they need it, they do
not know that they do."

Rick thought that one over as he climbed out of the valley and set a
compass course south to Baguio. The course would intersect the Bontoc
Road, which he would then follow into town.

"What's our next step?" he asked.

"We've got to find Tony, of course. I have a hunch that we weren't
thorough enough in looking over the Bontoc Road. Nangolat _had_ to be on
it. Where else could he go? Or where else _would_ he go?"

"That lumber could have been camouflage," Angel offered.

Rick's first reaction was to ask what lumber, then he remembered that an
Army truck like theirs, but loaded with lumber, had been on the Bontoc
Road.

"Of course! Who would suspect a load of lumber, especially since this is
lumber country?"

Scotty nodded. "It's possible. Tomorrow we'll go back to Bontoc, and if
Nangolat was driving that lumber truck, Pilipil and company will know
it. Tonight we'll cover Baguio again to make sure our enemies aren't
still around. Perhaps we can find Chahda."

"If we haven't found Dr. Briotti by tomorrow night," Angel said, "we
should go to the police."

"There's someone else we'll visit first," Rick said grimly. "And that's
Mr. Irineo Lazada!"

CHAPTER X

Ambush

The hotel had received no word of Tony Briotti. Rick and Scotty hadn't
really expected any word. They were certain that he had been kidnaped by
Nast. Even the reason for the kidnaping was no longer important. What
was important was to rescue Tony.

Angel Manotok left before the boys were ready for dinner. He hoped to
pick up some information at various places he knew around town. Perhaps
gossip which might be useful. Perhaps someone had seen something unusual
which could have a bearing on the young archaeologist's disappearance.
Angel promised to report back later. He would spend the night in Tony's
room.

Rick and Scotty decided to have dinner, and then talk with some of the
local Americans about the best place to buy a jeep. If possible, they
wanted to pick one up after dinner, get it ready to travel, and have it
standing by the next morning early.

They did not talk much at dinner. They were more worried about Tony than
either