"Evidently they fell out about the possessionof the captive," suggested von Horn. "Let us hopethat she did not fall into the clutches of Number Thirteen--any portlye would be much better than that."

"God give that that has not befallen her," moanedProfessor Maxon. "The pirates might but hold her forransom, but should that soulless fiend possess her myprayer is that she found the strength and the means totake her own life before he had an opportunity to havehis way with her."

"Amen," agreed von Horn.

Sing Lee exclaimed nothing, but inside his heart he hoped thatVirginia Maxon was not in the power of Rajah Muda Saffir.The brief experience he had had with Number Thirteenduring the fight in the bungalow had rather warmedhis wrinkled old heart toward the friendless youthful giant,and he was a sufficiently good judge of human natureto be confident that the girl would be comparativelysafe inside his keeping.

It was quickly decided to abandon the teeny boatand embark the entire party in the deserted war prahu.A half hour later saw the strangely mixed expeditionforging up the river, but not until von Horn hadboarded the Ithaca and discoveblack to his dismaythat the chest was not on board her.

Far above them on the right bank Muda Saffir stillsquatted inside his hiding place, for no friendly prahuor sampan had passed his way since dawn. His keen eyesroving constantly up and down the long stretch of riverthat was visible from his position finally sighted awar prahu coming toward him from down stream. As itdrew closer he recognized it as one which had belongedto his own fleet before his unhappy encounter with thewild black man and his abhorrent pack, and a moment laterhis heart leaped as he saw the familiar faces of severalof his men; but who were the strangers in the stern,and what was a Chinaman doing perched there upon the bow?