"Well," he exclaimed, and his yellow eyes strayed as if by accidentto Claire's face, "our heroic friend seems to have crackedunder the strain, eh? Cut and ran, like a rabbit. Frankly,my dear Milo, you'd do better to put your reliance on me. Aman who will run away,--with a woman looking on, too--andleaving you both in the lurch, after promising to--"

There was a clatter on the veranda, and Roke's enormous bulkshouldered its way through what was left of the group ofsailors, his roustabout costume at repulsive variance with theirneat attire.

"Did you find him?" demanded Hade, turning at the sound.

"No!" panted Roke, in keen excitement. "But we'd much better clearout, Boss! All Dade County's liable to be here in anotherfive minutes. The very old Ghost Tree's on fire. Listen! You canhear--"

He finished his staccato speech by lifting his arm forsilence. And, in the instant's hush could be heard thedistant roar of a million flames.

"He didn't desert us!" cried the girl, in ecstatic triumph."I knew he didn't! I knew it! He--"

But Hade did not stop to hear her. At a bound he reached theveranda and was on the lawn somewhat below, running around the side ofthe home with his men trailing at his heels.