Japanese mate, Asoki, in the exact attitude in which
Martin had last seen him, when he entered the caves in Ichi's wake.
The man seemed not to have budged since then. And forward, the guards
were still at the hatches. He saw Yip step out of the gallery, empty a
pot overside, and stand there by the rail, gazing aft.

Asoki suddenly came to life, walked over to the skylight and glanced
below, and then struck six bells' on the bell that hung by the wheel.

Martin's feeling of disappointment was changed to one of astonishment.
Six bells! It was unbelievable. Only thirty moments since he followed
Ichi through the Elephant Head! A half hour!

The swift tragedies by the chasm brink, the earth's convulsions, and
the darkness, above all the darkness, all combined to lend error to his
time reckoning. He had felt he was immersed in the black bowels of the
mountain for hours. But now he looked into daylight, and reasoned
about it, he realized how short was the time spent in the cave of
winds. It was but a half hour since they landed. Thirty moments!
Why, the bosun and the boys must still be quiet in the hold, and Yip's
plot was still a-borning. And now, he was not impotent; he could help,
perhaps. With Ichi.

He turned to call Little Billy and the prisoner forward. He discovered
the hunchback by his side, peering out at the ship. But Ichi was gone.

"My God, where is he?" exclaimed Martin.

"Eh? Damn! I forgot him!" was Billy's answer. He glanced swiftly
around. "There he goes!"

Martin saw him the same instant--the squat figure streaking for the dim
recesses at the farther end of the cavern. He sprinted after the
vanishing form. Before he could overhaul it, Ichi rounded a spur of
rock; there was a crash, and a yelp of terror and pain. Martin,
rounding the corner, came into collision with a round rolling object,
and sprawled headlong over it.

He landed on a softer couch than the rock, on Ichi, himself; and the
Jap's remaining wind was expelled from his body with a forcible
"_woof!_" Something made of wood fell on Martin's back, and bounced
off; then a barrel rolled against him and stopped. He did not feel
either blow; he was too intent on making sure of the safety of the
captive. He flopped the limp and groaning Ichi over on his back, and
sat on him.

Just then Little Billy appeared around the jutting rock with the
lantern.

"Got him safe?" he exclaimed. "Oh, Martin, I was so anxious--the
ship-