Scotty rose, his pleasure at the plan evident in his wide grin. "Let's go!"

Fifteen hours later the _Swift Arrow_ withdrew to the open waters to the south as the sun slowly fell below the horizon. The four adventurers gathered around the chart table and studied the island of Shan, comparing notes.

Zircon used a pair of dividers as a pointer. "This cove on the eastern sh.o.r.e looks like the best possibility for anchoring the vinta, and I'd say the climb up the volcano from there is no harder than from any other place."

Rick agreed. "It looked that way to me, too. We'll call that cove our back door. The only real puzzle is, does the volcano have a crater? If so, we'll have to go around it. Climbing down into the crater and up again would use up too much time."

Zircon shrugged. "We have no way of telling. Did anyone notice a preferred way around the cone?"

"The southern slope looks a little less steep," Scotty volunteered.

Chahda nodded agreement. "I also think this. To me, big trouble is place right above cliff. Is pretty steep, I think."

The Hindu boy was right as usual, Rick thought. He had seen through the long gla.s.s that the area above the steep cliff was only slightly less vertical than the cliff itself, with an occasional shelf of rock. Not only would that be the hardest part of the trip, he guessed, but the most dangerous, since they would be in sight of the village part of the time.

"It's steep," Scotty agreed. "I'd say it's not a place to pick for a casual stroll, but I can't think of any other way to get our friends off that shelf. Can you?"

The others shook their heads. They had discussed it at length during the daylight hours while they floated patiently in the waters south of Shan, alternately sleeping and preparing for the night's work. Since no other plan seemed even remotely feasible, Rick and Scotty were to make the first try in about two hours.

The time pa.s.sed swiftly with last-minute preparations. The boys carried rope, heavy spikes to be used as pitons on particularly difficult places, flashlights taped so only a pinpoint of light could emerge, cans of water from the emergency rations, work gloves from the clothing locker, and candy bars for quick-energy rations.

In addition, Rick had Zircon's pistol, a takedown fishing rod, with reel and line, a radio unit, and the long gla.s.s. Scotty had his rifle, a small first-aid kit, and a wooden caulking mallet.

The two boys were having a last cup of coffee when Chahda came down from the upper deck. "Is time," the Hindu boy told them. "We two miles east of Shan. Good wind. You make good time going in, not so good coming back."

The boys finished their coffee and went on deck. The four shook hands all around, and Zircon cautioned, "Give yourselves plenty of time for the return trip. Remember that if you're late, you'll have to hide on the volcano all day!"

CHAPTER XVI

The Black Cliff

Heavy seas broke against the rocky base of the island. Rick surveyed the cove they had chosen with some misgiving. The vinta wouldn't be safe if tied to sh.o.r.e. The breaking surf would batter it to bits before they could get back.

Scotty moved to his side. "Now what?"

"Swim," Rick said grimly. "Around that point looks like the most sheltered place, but it isn't good. The wind blows these waves halfway around the world, and they've got plenty of steam."

"Have to chance it," Scotty stated.

They maneuvered the cranky craft into the meager shelter of the point Rick had indicated, then dropped the stone anchor. It dragged along the bottom briefly, then caught in a cleft between two underwater rocks. It would hold unless the rope broke.

The boys took their belongings and bundled them in their clothes, along with shoes and weapons. Then, holding the bundles high with one hand, they slipped into the water. In a few moments the two were rubbing themselves dry and putting their clothes on again.

Rick tried the radio unit while they rested. "Rick to Zircon."

"Standing by, Rick. Where are you?"

"Ash.o.r.e." He described the situation briefly.

"I should have thought of that," Zircon replied. "The eastern sh.o.r.e is to windward. You were bound to have surf. Are you all right?"

"Yes. We're starting out now. We'll talk to you from on top, if it's safe." He hung the little radio around his neck by its lanyard, and stood up. "Ready to climb Mount Everest, brother Scott?"

Scotty stared up at the slope of the volcano. "If you are, brother Brant."

Neither boy was an experienced mountaineer, but both knew the principles of operation. They roped together and started the long climb. It was easy at first. The slopes low down were not steep, and the broken lava gave plenty of hand and footholds. But as they reached a point Rick estimated to be about two hundred feet above the water, the slope steepened sharply.

"Rest a moment," Scotty suggested. "We'll last longer if we take a breather once in a while."

Rick knew Scotty was right, but he resented the need for sitting idly for even a few minutes. He used the five-minute rest period to report to Zircon that all was well.

Rick led the way again as soon as the luminous dial of his wrist watch showed that five minutes had elapsed. Twice he and Scotty were stalled for a brief time, but finally found a route and improved it by hammering the steel spikes in clefts in the rock. With the hammer padded, the sound was m.u.f.fled to a point where it couldn't be heard more than a few feet away. The spikes could be used to belay their rope on the way down.

The last stage of the upward journey was to the top of the cone. It was nearly vertical, but wide cracks made it less difficult than some of the areas below. Scotty was leading now. He reached the top, then waited for Rick to join him.

Silently the two boys looked out over the dark sea, and Rick wished for a moment that he could see the view by daylight.

"Let's check the crater," Scotty suggested. He drew his flashlight, then inched forward across the rubble of the rim. Rick stayed beside him.

"Any danger of the beam being seen?" Scotty asked softly.

"No. The angle is wrong. If you keep it directed toward the crater, it will be invisible from the sea."

Rick watched as Scotty switched the light on. The pencil of light swept downward, and finally lost itself in nothingness.

The two boys stared at each other.

"The whole island's hollow!" Rick breathed. "I'll say this thing has a crater!"

"Plenty deep," Scotty agreed. "Well, that tears it. Nothing to do but go around. You lead the way."

Rick felt his way down until at last he was standing on the shoulder of the ancient volcano just below the final sweep upward to the crest. In a moment Scotty joined him. Slowly and carefully they started the long journey around, taking the southern slope as previously agreed.

It was hard going. In spots the lava was crumbly and gave under foot or hand. In others it was dense as steel slag.

When Rick estimated that over half the distance around the volcano had been covered he called Zircon and reported, then told the big scientist it would be their last contact for a while.

Within a hundred feet the lights of the village came in sight far below.

The boys paused to survey the situation, and to examine the western part of the island. Most of it was visible from their vantage point. Only the cove where the vintas were kept and the section of village closest to the cliff were out of sight. Rick could see the beach clearly, and wondered if the guards were looking their way.

"Go carefully," Scotty whispered. "This is no time to start a landslide."

"Good advice," Rick whispered back. "But which way do we go now?"