osity was whetted, but not
sufficiently in Venner's case, to whom the safety of the yacht was
paramount just then. They wrangled for half an hour, and the schooner
drifted on until she was within a mile or so of the outflung false
Point. Then they were again startled out of their self-possession--this
time by a cry from the girl who leaned over the bulwarks a picture of
ardent admiration for something in the water.

Double awnings and snowy hammock-cloths restricted the view shoreward
from the quarter-deck chairs, and surprise as deep as that which greeted
the girl surged through the disputing three at a great splashing over
the side, accompanied by the boom of a voice that must come from a
powerful, free-breathing chest.

"Room for Milo, servant of Dolores!" the hail rang out, and by the same
means as Pascherette had used, up climbed Milo, to stand motionless
before the white men, an astounding and awe-inspiring shape.

"Another slave of the mysterious queen?" demanded Venner, when recovered
from his astonishment. "It gets interesting, gentlemen. And what is your
errand, Goliath?" he inquired of Milo.

"I know no Goliath. I am Milo. I come to summon ye to the presence of my
queen," returned the giant with as much unconcern as if he were inviting
the pirates to a barbecue.

A titter of amusement passed over the three yachtsmen. It was tinged
with resentment, though, and only curiosity, aroused by shock upon
shock, prevented an angry rejoinder to Milo's speech that could only
have ended one way: in physical damage to three idle gentlemen of wealth
and pleasure.

"A summons, hey?" scoffed Tomlin. "Your queen values her rank, I think."
A dangerous gleam crept into Milo's eyes, and Pearse detected it in
time. "Venner," he said quietly, "you cannot let this adventure pass.
Here's every element of sport held up to us. Let us obey this command,
and get at least a thrill out of this humdrum cruise."

Venner was thinking of many things, and his mind needed little making
up. He had never lost sight of those pearls of Pascherette's; his eye
could not be deceived; they were priceless. And Pearse had not failed to
notice the green jade skull-charm that depended from Milo's columnar
neck, a jade skull with pearls for teeth like the altar brooch of
Dolores. And Tomlin, for all his expressed scorn, was tingling with
ardent desire for such piquant beauty and vivacity as Pascherette's. If
such a creature were the slave, then what