The two men on the pier were concentrating their attention on the plane swinging over the lagoon and the hound which had sounded the alarm was beside them, so it was a comparatively simple matter for Bob to jump across the threshold. Inside the door, where only an oil lamp cast faint illumination, he crouched with his rifle in his hands, accustoming his eyes to the light. There was, apparently, no one in the room. He spoke softly to the sheriff, who was waiting just outside. “All clear; come on!” With one bound the sheriff was inside and like Bob he had his rifle ready for instant action. Squinting between cracks in the wall, the sheriff watched the action in the lagoon. The plane smacked the surface of the water sharply and came to rest several hundred feet from the end of the old pier. The men waiting there put out in a motorboat, making directly for the plane, which was bobbing around on the waves which it had stirred up in the quiet waters. Chapter XXXIV IN THE SHANTY ★ Sheriff McCurdy turned from the wall and watched Bob open the door to the second room. He saw the young federal agent drop to his knees and his gun clatter while a choked sob escaped from Bob’s lips. The sheriff crossed the room in several bounds and bent down over Bob, who was kneeling beside the bound and gagged figure of a man. Without asking questions, the sheriff handed Bob a knife and the ropes and gag were slashed. “Uncle Merritt, Uncle Merritt,” cried Bob. “Speak to me.” There was desperation in his voice. Merritt Hughes opened his eyes and tried to smile. His lips and tongue were swollen from the gag, but the expression in his eyes gave Bob courage. “We’d better get him out of here,” said Bob. “They’ll be back and we won’t be ready for them.” Before they could turn, a harsh laugh echoed through the room and the heavy voice of Joe Hamsa lashed at them. “You’re not going any place, boys, except where I want you to and you’ll never return from there.” Bob started to move, but a quick command from Hamsa stopped him. “Don’t move kid. I’ve got a machine gun on you and my finger is nervous. Turn around slowly and don’t either one of you try any gunplay.” They started to turn slowly when Bob was amazed by a quick gesture of his uncle’s. Hidden in the heavy shadow of the little room which adjoined the larger one, he reached up and like a flash seized the revolver which was in the shoulder holster. There wasn’t even the rustle of Bob’s coat as the gun was whisked away and Bob continued to turn slowly toward Hamsa.