truth, Martin looked upon himself as doomed. "How would you like to
go out?" Ichi had queried; and his manner had made the question a
promise. Well, he would try not to go out alone. His work was cut out
for him, and it was desperate work. There was slim chance, he knew, of
surviving the execution of his plan, but he contemplated his probable
death with the high courage of self-sacrifice.

His life, he felt, was a small price to pay for the recovery of the
ship and the freeing of his sweetheart. For he was convinced that the
boatswain's success was dependent upon his keeping these six Japs on
shore. He felt sure his comrades, warned by Yip and Little Billy,
would seize the opportunity presented by Carew's divided forces. He
meant to fight to keep the Japs separated.

As the boat grounded, and he stood up to leap ashore, he wriggled his
wrists in the cuffs, making sure he could free himself with a jerk. He
might die, but he vowed he would take some of these yellow devils with
him on his passage out.

Also, he reflected, it would make little difference to him, even if he
remained docile. The issue would be the same. He was certain Ichi
would murder him, so soon as the treasure was uncovered. He was
certain Carew had commanded that very ending.

So, it was with a mind made up to grasp any desperate chance, with a
courage utterly reckless, that Martin disembarked on the volcanic sand
of Fire Mountain beach.

They had landed at one end of the beach. The first object Martin's
curious eyes encountered was the "Elephant Head." John Winters'
directions ran in his mind--"south end beach, in elephant head." That
curiously fashioned jutting rock was the elephant head; cleanly
sculptured were the rounded head, slab ears, arched trunk, all
gigantic. Beneath the rock-snout was a narrow slit about six feet high
by half as wide. It was, Martin knew, the entrance the whaleman had
written of.

But Martin had little time to inspect the beach. Ichi commanded
dispatch. Martin noticed with surprise that as soon as Ichi touched
foot on the sand, his accustomed phlegm was replaced by visible
nervousness.

Ichi ordered, and the four sailors ran the boat up on the beach. Then,
Moto leading the way, carrying the two lanterns, they all trooped
toward the cave entrance.

Martin used his eyes as he walked. There were, he saw, many cave
openings on a level with the beach. One in particular was a gaping
cavern. Ichi,