of the betel pepper, extensively chewed in the East. Why
had Piang not brought his brass? He would run and fetch it; but the man
would not wait. Just as he saw the things about to pass into the hands
of his rival, he remembered his ring. Attracting the attention of the
trader, he quickly unscrewed the tiny center and proudly displayed a
few glittering flakes; Piang did not know that they were gold dust;
but the trader whistled a low note of surprise and called one of
his shipmates aside. The Moro boy had seen the Japanese trade whole
shiploads of copra for the shiny stuff, so, when he had found some
in the sand one day, he had gathered it.

When the trader made it clear to Piang that he could have the
treasures for more of the flakes, he was delighted, and without a
moment's delay started off up the trail, not deigning to glance at
the disappointed Sicto.

Up, up, he climbed. Heat, thirst, nothing slackened his pace. Arriving
at his home, he flew to the lake, and, without a word to any one,
jumped into his banco and pushed out into the water. Sweat poured
down his face; mosquitos buzzed around his head: but he had no time
to build a smudge. He must hurry, or the strange boat would leave
the island and take forever the treasures Piang so coveted.

Soon he struck the current, and when he felt the boat settle into
it he dropped over the side, holding on to the outriggers, and let
the boat pull him through the cool water. He noticed another banco
in the distance and wondered what brought another person out on the
lake in the heat, but the mosquitos occupied all his attention, and
he dived and swam under the water to avoid them, soon forgetting the
other boatman.

Which stream had he paddled up before, when he had found the bright
sand? He examined the shore carefully as he climbed into the boat. It
must be there. Yes, he remembered the orchids in that tree. Cautiously
he guided the banco to the mouth of the creek, and he shuddered as he
caught sight of a shiny black object slipping into the water. It was
a harmless snake, but Piang did not like snakes and he hurried past
the spot. Gradually he lost sight of the lake and the sun; overhanging
vegetation and fallen trees engulfed him. At times he could not use
his paddle, and cautiously avoiding the thorns and poisoned things,
he pulled the boat along from above. Soon this little stream would
take him into the big river where he had found the pretty sand.

Piang was