The Pirates of Shan Part 16

As the MTB plowed toward the island more details became visible. There was a very small crescent of beach on the northern sh.o.r.e, but black volcanic rock dropped into the sea in most places.

"Let's see what the rest of this place looks like," Zircon directed.

Rick put the MTB on a curving course that would take them completely around the island, about a hundred yards offsh.o.r.e. They left the northern coast and pa.s.sed the eastern edge of the island. Surf broke on the black volcanic rock on the eastern sh.o.r.e, except at one point where there appeared to be a fair-sized cove.

The southern sh.o.r.e was equally forbidding until the volcanic cone was pa.s.sed. There was a large cove where the land shelf met the volcano.

Docks could be seen, and a few vintas. Apparently this was the island's boat anchorage.

Zircon nodded his satisfaction. "We seem to have something here, boys.

It's an ideal spot for a pirate stronghold. Notice they didn't try to follow us, or cut us off anywhere except on the west? That's because the island is a natural fortress, except for the western land slope. They need only look for trouble from the west."

The MTB was in sight of the pirate fleet again. They were still in a battle array to protect the vulnerable western sh.o.r.e. The line of vintas formed a long curve from a point just off the pirate anchorage around the western sh.o.r.e to where the volcano rose from the land shelf on the north.

"I'll stay out of rifleshot," Rick said. "Take a look at the village through the long gla.s.s, Professor. There may be some sign of Shannon and Tony."

"I'm not hopeful about that," Zircon replied. "They'd be under cover."

The pirates made no move to follow the MTB on its curving course around their battle line. Apparently the vintas were holding position in a planned defense. Across the vinta line, Rick could see a field of what appeared to be grain, separated by a street from a field of what was certainly corn. The village itself was of nipa shacks on stilts, all of them located near the volcano. There were a few trees, mostly mango and avocado.

"Plenty room for plenty pirates," Chahda commented.

Rick grinned mirthlessly. "You're so right." The village would provide housing for three or four hundred, anyway.

"No sign of volcanic activity," Scotty said. "It must be a dead volcano.

Anyway, I don't think even pirates would be foolish enough to live under a live one."

"You're right," Zircon agreed. He waved a hand at the island. "Does anyone doubt that this is the right place?"

No one did.

"I not seeing scientists," Chahda observed.

"They wouldn't be in the open, anyway. But did anyone see their boat?"

"All boats were vintas," Rick replied.

"I thought so, too. However, I wouldn't expect the pirates to keep the _Sampaguita_ in sight. Head back toward Tawi Tawi, Rick. We've plans to make!"

Rick returned the scientist's jubilant grin, then he turned to look back at the rapidly receding pirate island, the volcano black and forbidding in the gathering dusk.

"We'll be back," he promised the invisible scientists. "We'll be back!"

CHAPTER XIII

The Two Datus

The _Swift Arrow_ moved slowly through the darkness toward the Tawi Tawi Group. Chahda was at the helm, while Rick, Scotty, and Zircon held a council of war in the cabin. The Hindu boy kept popping in and out, letting the MTB travel with locked rudder for a few minutes at a time so he could be in on the conference.

"It has to be Shan," Rick said flatly. "No fis.h.i.+ng village ever had that many vintas. And no peaceful fishermen ever fired on a stranger the way that mob fired on us. Besides, there's a mountain."

"I agree." Zircon examined his pistol barrel carefully, then ran a cleaning rag through it again. "Furthermore, those vintas operated in a planned defense, in a way no fishermen would ever do. I'm convinced that it is the right island. The problem now is, what do we do?"

Scotty paused in rea.s.sembling his rifle after a thorough cleaning. "Is there a choice? We can't rush the village and rescue our friends, even if we knew where they were. We'll have to get the constabulary, and the Philippines Naval Patrol, and mount an all-out a.s.sault on the place."

"No!" Rick exclaimed. "We can't do that. If the pirates saw an armed fleet approaching, they'd kill Tony and Shannon, and get rid of their bodies. The fleet would find nothing at all."

Chahda asked in quick alarm, "You think they kill scientists when we come today?"

"I doubt it," Rick explained. "After all, one boat isn't a threat to them, even a fast one like this one. I think they'd only get rid of Tony and Shannon if they saw they were going to be invaded."

"Then what can we do?" Scotty asked.

"I'm not sure. Anyway, the first thing is to see if our friends are really there. When we get some more facts, maybe we can work out a plan."

Zircon nodded. "That's sensible. The question is, how can we reconnoiter the island? Circling it in the boat again will only tell us what we already know."

"Only one way. We go look," Chahda pointed out.

Rick knew the Hindu boy was right. But getting ash.o.r.e presented problems. If the MTB got within swimming distance, the pirates would see it. Of course they could row ash.o.r.e by night in the rubber life raft the big boat carried. He suggested it to the others.

Chahda leaped at the idea. "Silent boat is good, Rick, but not rubber boat. You remember we still got vinta?"

"Of course!" Rick saw that Chahda had hit on the answer. They had left the captured vinta in a small cove on the sh.o.r.e of an uninhabited island a few miles to the north. "We can get it and tow it to easy sailing distance. The pirates won't think anything of a single vinta even if they see it. There must be boats coming and going all the time."

"That is what I think too." Chahda ran back to the helm.

"Won't they recognize the vinta?" Scotty asked, then answered his own question, "I guess not. I've seen a dozen sails like it, and the hull looks like all the rest."

"The plan might work," Zircon agreed. "We'll try it. First we get the vinta, then head south. By morning we'll be far out in the open sea. We can then make a wide circle and approach the island from the east. They won't expect us from that direction. Besides, only the western sh.o.r.e was guarded, so far as I could see."

Rick had a picture in his mind of the strip of isolated beach on the northern sh.o.r.e. If they could land there, no one would see them. Then they could climb over the stretch of lava between the beach and the land, or swim around to the point where the land began.

"I know the place," he volunteered, and told the others his idea, repeating it for Chahda's benefit as the boy reappeared at the cabin door.

Zircon thought it over. "It should work, unless they have a lookout posted at each side of the island. But we can't know that until we try.

Frankly, I doubt it. I think they believe the island is safe on all sides except the west. Now, who will go on this reconnaissance?"

"Rick and me," Chahda said firmly.

"I'm going," Scotty stated.

Zircon held up his hand. "Wait. Chahda, from your tone of voice, you have a reason. What is it?"

"Plenty reason. This small island, so who goes ash.o.r.e will be seen, I think. So, must be in Moro clothes. Professor, you and Scotty not good size for Moro. You too big, and Scotty has too wide shoulders. Rick is maybe a little tall, but not so wide. He can maybe stoop a little. Me, I perfect for Moro. Even same color."