ho rescued Carew
two years ago.

"I have no doubt that immediately on receipt of Ichi's intelligence,
Smatt set about outfitting Carew for a trip to Fire Mountain. But I
don't know whether the attempted shanghaiing of Ruth was premeditated
or not. Of course, they knew of our presence in the port, and they may
have been waiting for a chance to pick up Ruth--aside from Carew's mad
infatuation, they may have expected to force from Ruth the latitude and
longitude of Fire Mountain. I would not put a planned kidnaping beyond
them. But it doesn't seem probable in the light of our undisturbed
efforts to filch the code from you."

"No, I am sure my capture was not the result of forethought," stated
Ruth. "I think they just noticed me standing steadfastly in the same
position, just across the street from their rendezvous, and naturally
they concluded I was a spy of some sort. Indeed, Carew's exclamation,
when they brought me before him, is convincing proof that he did not
know whom his men had bagged. 'My word, it is my spitfire, Ruth!' he
cried. I acted the spitfire, too, and I am afraid I said some very
unladylike things to him. But he only laughed in high glee. I was
horribly frightened, though I took care he didn't suspect it. I know
he meant to take me to sea with him.

"I only faced him for a few moments. There was an interruption from
the hall, a banging and a knocking----"

"I did that, kicking a door," said Martin.

"I thought it was Little Billy, also captured," went on Ruth. "I was
desperate. And Carew had me thrust into that other room, and the door
secured upon me. I heard a commotion and quarreling without, and
somebody was thrown into the room next to me. I thought it was Billy,
and I tried to communicate by raps. You know, Billy and I have become
quite expert in the use of that code; we practised on the passage up
from the islands. You could not answer me, so I knew it was not Little
Billy who had been imprisoned in the next room. I waited patiently and
fearfully, until Billy burst open the window."

"Yes, we didn't lose any time starting our rescue," added Little Billy.
"When I saw them haul Ruth into the house, I rushed back to the boat
and told the bosun. We reconnoitered. We saw a taxi drive up in front
of the saloon, and Carew storm out, and drive off."

"I guess he was bound to see Smatt about the blank sheets of paper in
the envelope," said Martin. "I swore up and down that the