rouble, the two blacks would combine against
him.

The negro who had pushed him aside paid no further attention to the boy,
but entered into a rapid-fire conversation with Hippolyte. Stuart could
follow the Haitian French dialect quite well, but there were so many
half-hidden allusions in the speech of the two men that it was easy for
him to see that they were both members of some secret band.

The intruder was evidently in some authority over Hippolyte, for he
concluded:

"Everything is well, Yes. Do with the boy, as was arranged."

So saying, he cast a look at Stuart, grinned evilly, and left the hut.
The boy watched him until his powerful figure was lost to view in the
forest.

Then he turned to Hippolyte.

"What does all this mean!" he demanded, as authoritatively as he could.

For a moment Hippolyte did not answer. He looked at the boy with a
reflection of the same evil grin with which the other had favored the
white boy.

A quick choke came into the boy's throat at the change in the negro's
manner. He was in Hippolyte's power, and he knew it. But he showed never
a quiver of fear as he faced the negro.

"What does it all mean?" he repeated.

"It is that you know Manuel Polliovo?"

Stuart knew the name well. His father had mentioned it as that of a
conspirator who was in some way active in a West Indian plot.

"I have heard of him," the boy answered.

"Manuel--he send a message, Yes. He say--Tell Stuart he must go away
from Haiti, at once. His father gone already."

"What does that mean!" exclaimed Stuart. The first words of the warning
had frightened him, but, with the knowledge that his father was in
danger, the fighting self of him rose to the surface, and his fear
passed.

"How?" returned the negro, not understanding.

"That my father has gone already?"

Hippolyte shrugged his shoulders with that exaggeration of the French
shrug common in the islands.

"Maybe Manuel killed him," came the cheerful suggestion. "Jules, who
tell me just now, says Manuel, he have the air very wicked and very
pleased when he tell him."

Stuart doubted this possibility. Ever since the American occupation of
Haiti, in 1915, murder had become less common. The boy thought it more
likely that the missing man had been captured and imprisoned. But just
what could Manuel be doing if he dared such drastic action? The lad
wished that he knew a little more about his father's plans.

A small revolver was in his pocket,