stones on board for?" demanded John.

The _Clarion_ men were silent. Their leader was the first to reply.

"We got some kola nuts from the natives at one of our stops, and wanted
the stones to crack them with," stated Deveaux.

"It's a lie!" accused Paul. "Stones do not accidentally fall as
straight as those did. Pete Deveaux, you and your crowd did the best
you could to wreck us, and I'm going to take it out of your hide right
now!"

"Oh, you are, are you?" sneered the French aviator. "It seems to me
I'll have something to say about that, you young whippersnapper! If
these friends of yours will keep out of this, I'll promise my boys will
keep out, and I'll give you all the show you want."

"Fair play; that's right!" cried Mr. Shoreman, stepping forward. He
had heard enough to convince him that nothing but a fistic settlement
of the controversy would be adequate, and, with the help of several
white traders and sailors, he formed a ring.

Like lightning the word went out, and scores of natives came running up
to see the encounter. An affair of this kind just suited their
primitive instincts; it was even a greater treat than seeing an
airplane land upon their fair island.

So by the time that Paul and Pete Deveaux had thrown off their coats, a
great ring of natives surrounded them, and in its front were numerous
whites from the ships in the harbor.

Pete Deveaux was inwardly very nervous, although he was careful not to
show it. Had Paul not been so much younger, Deveaux would probably
have made some excuse to back out of the fight. As it was, he had a
sneaking hope of getting the better of Paul, now that the youth's
friends had agreed not to interfere. He also hoped to injure the boy
so badly in the encounter that he could not take his turn operating the
Sky-Bird for the rest of the journey; at least, cripple him enough to
delay his party in getting away from the island.

With these evil intents the French flyer conceived still another. He
stepped aside and whispered something in Chuck Crossman's ear, then
came back and faced Paul.

Mr. Shoreman gave the signal, and Pete Deveaux feinted and shot his
other fist savagely at Paul's eye. But the boy was wary, dodged the
blow, and struck his adversary a hard one in the chest. For a moment
Deveaux was staggered; but he quickly recovered, and once more sprang
forward.

Missing with his right, he succeeded in hitting Paul in the shoulder
with his left.