trembling above Bongao. He paused and trained his eye on the
blur. Suddenly he dug his paddle into the water.

"Papita, quick! The _Sabah_ is coming!"

Again the vinta shot forward, down through the shifting, treacherous
delta, out into the ocean. Louder grew the beating of paddles against
the Dyak war-praus, and Piang could hear the war chant. He knew that
Sicto cared little for ships; he had evaded too many of them. Only
the _Sabah_, Sicto feared, but he would probably take a chance on
this being the Chino mail boat or a Spanish tramp. That the Dyaks
would take the chance and follow, Piang was sure.

The sea was choppy and fretful. The little bride boat danced and
careened about recklessly. Between the _Sabah_ and Piang lay Bongao,
and straight for Bongao he headed, skilfully keeping the vinta
steady. A white mist rose, as if to hide the vinta from the pursuers,
but when the fleet reached the river's mouth a yell announced that
they had been discovered. The race was for life, for more than life,
and the boy seemed possessed of a supernatural strength. Nearer came
the smoke, and finally around the point of Bongao, burst the little
gunboat. At first the Dyaks did not heed the stranger, so used were
they to hurling contempt at island visitors, but when in answer to
Papita's signal, as she stood up waving her disheveled wedding veil,
there came a shrill whistle, they paused in dismay.

In a very short time Papita and Piang were raised over the side of the
_Sabah_, and General Beech and Governor Findy were questioning them.

"You say that Dato Ynoch is pursuing you?"

"Yes, yes, that is him in the first prau," excitedly replied Piang.

"Well, Piang, it is Ynoch that brings the _Sabah_ here to-day. We
thank you, my boy, for tempting him into the open."

When the Moro boy disclosed Ynoch's identity, a grim smile settled
over Governor Findy's face.

"Man the guns, Captain!" commanded General Beech in his dignified,
quiet way.

The Dyaks were scattering in the wildest confusion, making their
way back to the river with all speed, but the _Sabah_ relentlessly
pursued. A sudden darkening shadow startled the captain of the _Sabah_,
and he pointed toward the mountains.

"Something queer hatchin' over there, General."

A dense mist hid the hills; only old Ganassi Peak stood out, dignified
and stern. Like a dirty piece of canvas, one cloud balanced itself on
Ganassi's shoulder and rapidly spread itself around the peak.