Then into his memory flashed something which the shock of hisupsetting had completely banished. He recalled the motorboatwhich had darted, arrow-like, out from around the southernedge of the mangrove swamp, and which he had been watchingwhen his scow went to pieces on the reef.

If this were the same boat--if its steersman chanced to beMilo Standish crossing to the key to learn if his murderplothad yet culminated--so much the much better! Man to man, therebetween sea and sky in the gathering gloom, they could settlethe account once and for all.

Perhaps Standish had recognized him. Perhaps he merely tookhim for some capsized fisherman. In either event. a swimmingman is the most utterly defenseless of all creatures againstattack from land or from boat. And Gavin was not minded tolet Standish finish his work with boat-hook or with oar. Ifhe and his foe were to meet it should be on even terms.

The boat had switched off power and was coming to astandstill. Gavin dived. He swam clean under the craft,lengthwise, coming up at its stern and farthest from thatindistinct figure in the prow.

As he rose to the surface he caught with both arms the narrowoverhang of the stern, and with a mighty heave he hoistedhimself hip-high out of the water.

Thence it was the work of a bare two seconds for him to swinghimself over the stern and to land on all fours in the bottomof the boat. The narrow craft careened dangerously under suchtreatment. But she righted herself, and by the time he hadfairly landed upon the cleated bottom. Brice was on his feetand making for the prow. He always was ready now for any emergencyand could meet his adversary on equal terms.

"Mr. Brice!" called the boat's other occupant, springing up,her sweet voice trembling and almost tearful. "0h, thank Godyou're safe! I was so frightened!"