r Gordon, chop-chop. You know--not the dust, but the
principle of the thing, et cetera. Millions for justice but not a
plugged Straits dollar for graft. Catch on?"

"Why not invoke the law? No lack of it here, I understand," put in Barry
innocently. Houten's vast frame shook with a silent chuckle.

"Go on," he gurgled. "Captain Barry is no fool."

"Act two--curtain!" Little complied quickly. "Surabaya chap is called
Leyden, half Dutch, half English. Trader of sorts, see? Well, Leyden is
bound for Celebes right now; hunt up the source of supplies, y' know. Up
the Sandang River, where the post is, there's a missionary outfit that
Houten is interested in. One of the Mission lot is a girl, and Leyden
has boasted openly he's going to make a hit with the little frock.
Houten aims to empty Gordon out, euchre Leyden, and give the good
Mission people an object lesson on bad men in general, with Leyden as
the horrible example. Savvee? Sure you do."

Barry eyed Houten in some perplexity. Knowing little of the man, he was
more than slightly suspicious of this tale.

"I gather your intention is to interfere between this girl and Leyden
more than anything else," he remarked slowly. "Well, frankly, I'd like
to know why. It doesn't sound any nicer than the usual man-and-woman
affair out East. It's too altruistic."

Houten's steady eyes seemed to fire Little to further explanation.

"Not a bit, Barry," Little went on warmly. "This fellow Leyden isn't a
clean sport, by a jugful. Puts on heaps of side; carries a swagger
front. Put over some shady jobs in the island already, and Houten's sick
of it. Don't imagine our friend here has any interest in this particular
Mission lady beyond befriending her and her kind. He hasn't. I'll
guarantee that.

"He wants to hand Leyden a swift kick, business and personal. Also save
the little Mission toiler from contamination by personal contact with
the bad man, or words to that effect. We take train to Surabaya--the
_Barang_ picks us up there--size up Leyden's outfit, and put a spoke in
his wheel that'll give us a start of him.

"If we locate the gold river, we get half the loot, see? Forget the
altruism of it--an old sea-dog has no business with a word like that,
anyway. I know Houten, and I'll answer for his motives. How about it,
Barry?"

Barry thought for a moment, scanning both of his companions keenly the
while, then: "Suits me," he said quietly. "I suppose we descend upon
Surabaya as