ing scientists until the colonel
had finished eating. Dr. Brant had promised to call them for the meeting
which was to take place immediately after lunch. Both boys were so
impatient for the meeting to begin that it seemed to them the others
were taking an unduly long time to consume the meal.

"Rick, Scotty. Come on into the library."

The boys turned swiftly at Hartson Brant's call and hurried from the
waterfront to the big Brant house. As they entered, Hobart Zircon was
just coming down the stairs from his room. The distinguished nuclear
physicist greeted them with a comradely wink. "So you two are attending
the meeting too, eh? I have an idea we may be joining forces again."

Zircon had shared many adventures with the boys. More than once, his
enormous size and legendary strength had gotten them out of a tight
spot. The physicist was considerably over six feet tall and built like a
fighting bull, and he had a booming voice that fitted his physique.

Hartson Brant introduced Zircon to Colonel Rojas, waved the group to
seats, and got down to business. He addressed the Filipino officer.
"First, let me say for all of us that we are indebted to you for leaving
your office on such short notice to give us the benefit of your advice
and counsel."

"It is nothing. If I can be of help, I will be grateful. Perhaps if you
will start at the beginning, it will clarify things."

The scientist nodded assent. "I'll be glad to. As I told you on the way
over, two of our staff members are missing. You know one of them--Dr.
Anthony Briotti. The other is Dr. Howard Shannon, our zoologist. Tony,
of course, is an archaeologist. They departed for the Sulu Sea several
weeks ago on a joint expedition to try to find new evidence for a theory
of migration of the early peoples in the Pacific."

Hobart Zircon added, "We started on this theory some time ago with a
trip to an island in the western Pacific. Dr. Briotti continued that
work during the rice-terrace expedition. I believe you met him then."

"I did," Colonel Rojas agreed. "How is the present expedition connected
with your previous work? The combination of an archaeologist and a
zoologist seems unusual."

"Tony has determined that the origins of the Bajaus, the Sea Gypsies of
Sulu, may be of importance," Hartson Brant explained. "In addition, he
wanted to check some details of Bagobo culture. Dr. Shannon hoped to
contribute some evidence based on the early migration of some anima