me out of hand. An ill outcome
indeed! Nor could I forget that there was half a million of treasure
involved.

It was obvious to me that Hanley would not permit the patrol-ships to
attack De Boer with the lives of Jetta and myself at stake. Hanley
knew, or suspected, that De Boer was operating an invisible flyer, but
I did not see how that could help Hanley much. Markes, acting for
Nareda, would doubtless be willing to ransom Jetta: the United States
would ransom me. I must urge the ransom plan, because for all the
money in the world I would not endanger Jetta, nor let this bandit
carry her off.

Or could I escape with her, and still find some means to save the
treasure? It was Jetta's treasure now, two-thirds of it, for it had
legally belonged to her father. Could I save it, and her as well?

Not by any move of mine, here now on this flyer. That was impossible.
In De Boer's camp, perhaps. But that, too, I doubted. He was too
clever a scoundrel to be lax in guarding me.

But in the effecting of a ransom--the exchange of me, and perhaps
Jetta, for a sum of money--that would be a delicate transaction, and
some little thing could easily go wrong for De Boer. There would be my
chance. I would have to make something go wrong! Get in his confidence
now so that I would have some say in arranging the details of the
ransom. Make him think I was only concerned for my own safety. Appear
clever in helping plan the exchange. And then so manipulate the thing
that I could escape with Jetta and save the treasure--and the ransom
money as well. And capture De Boer, since that was what Hanley had
sent me out to accomplish.

* * * * *

Thoughts fly swiftly. All this flashed to me. I had no details as yet.
But that I must get into De Boer's confidence stood but clearly.

I said abruptly, "De Boer, since we are to be friends--"

"So you prefer to sit down now?"

"Yes." I had drawn a small settle to face him. "De Boer, do you intend
to ask a ransom for Jetta?"

"You insist with that question?"

"That is my way. Then we can understand each other. Do you?"

"No," he said shortly.

I frowned. "I think I could get you a big price."

"I think I should prefer the little Jetta, Grant."

I held myself outwardly unmoved. "I don't blame you. But you will
ransom me? It can be worked out. I have some ideas."

"Yes," he agreed. "It can be worked perhaps. I have not thought of
details yet. You are much co