rry braced himself
and waited.

Then, off shoreward, came the sound of "put-put-put." The motor boat,
"Morton," was putting out at last.

"If I can keep this fellow busy for a few minutes, I can have all the help
I want," flashed through Hazelton's mind. So he opened his mouth, raising
his voice in a long, pent-up hail.

"R e---e---e a d e! To---o---o---om R e a d e! Quick! Hazelton!"

"Ha, ha!" jeered the unknown black.

Then, suddenly, he leaped---not unexpectedly, however, for Harry had been
watching, cat-like.

The unknown threw out his arms, seeking to wrap them around Hazelton.

Not in vain had Harry been trained, season after season, on the athletic
ground of one of the best high school elevens in the United States.

As the fellow leaped at him Harry crouched lower and went straight at his
opponent.

Powerful as the stranger was he was no football player. Harry "tackled"
him in the neatest possible way, then strove to rise with this great
human being.

In the first instant it seemed to the young engineer as though he were
trying to lift a mountain. His back felt as though it were snapping under
a giant's task. Yet, but for one fact, Hazelton would have risen with his
man, and would have hurled the mysterious one over into the waters of the
gulf.

Just in the instant of victory Harry's injured right foot gave out under
him. With a stifled groan he sank down just as he threw his opponent.

The black, instead of going into the water, landed hard on his back on the
top of the wall. He was up again, however, before Hazelton could repress
the pain in his foot and leap at the wretch.

"Ha, ha! Ho, ho!" came the tantalizing challenge.

"Put-put-put!" sounded over the water, coming nearer all the time.

"Re---e---e---e a d e! T o m R e a d e! Help---quick!" yelled Harry,
lustily.

This, doubtless, was the first call that Tom, at the bow of the motor boat,
thought he heard.

Uttering a snort, this time, instead of the laugh, the black sprang at his
intended prey. Their heads met, with considerable force. Then, with a
wild chuckle, the black wound his apelike arms around the young engineer.

"Reade! Tom Reade! Reade!" bellowed Hazelton lustily, as he tried
desperately to free himself from the crushing embrace of the other.

* * * * *

Over the waters came the penetrating beam of a small search-light. The
"Morton" was coming nearer all the time, but the ray did not