ghty
pleasant."

"Not if you have to put in several hours of study after you get through."

"Study?"

"Yes. You see, I have a special examination to-morrow."

"A service examination?"

"Oh, no--college."

"Are you a student?"

"All the crew are students. It helps a good deal, if you are working your
way through college."

"Oh, I see. But surely the university hasn't opened for the fall?"

"No, but there are preliminary exams, for those who have conditions to
work off."

Orme nodded. "It's a fine campus you have--with the groves of oaks."

"Yes."

"Just the place for a quiet evening stroll. I thought I'd walk up the
shore."

"There's a rule against going in there after dark."

"Is there? That's too bad."

"Something funny happened there just a little while ago."

"So? What was it?" Orme was getting close to the subject he most desired
to hear explained.

"Why, one of the cops was walking along the shore and he found a
Japanese, stunned."

"A Japanese!"

"He evidently had wandered in there and somebody had hit him over the
head with a club."

"After money?"

"Probably. There've been a good many holdups lately. But the slugger
didn't have a chance to get anything this time."

"How so?"

"He was bending over the Jap when the cop came up. He got away."

"Didn't the cop chase him?"

"No, the fellow had a good start, so the cop stayed by the Jap."

"And what became of the Jap?"

The life-saver jerked his head toward the door beside him. "He's in
there, getting over his headache."

"Is he?" This was a contingency which Orme had not foreseen. Nor had he
any desire to come face to face with Maku. But if he betrayed his
surprise, the life-saver did not notice it.

"The cop is taking another look through the campus," he continued.

"What does the Jap say about it?" asked Orme.

"He doesn't say anything. It looks as though he couldn't speak English.
The cop is going to get Asuki."

"Asuki?"

"A Jap student who lives in the dormitory."

"Oh," said Orme.

The fact that Maku would not talk was in a measure reassuring. His
apparent inability to understand English was, of course, assumed, unless,
indeed, he was still too completely dazed by the blow which Orme had
given him, to use a tongue which was more or less strange to him. But
what would he say if he saw Orme? Would he not accuse his assailant,
hoping thus to delay the pursuit of his companion?

The danger was by no means slight.