Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: FOR A MOMENT OR MORE THERE WAS ABSOLUTE STILLNESS IN THAT GRASSY ARENA] AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING BY PHILIP VERRILL MIGHELS Author of _The Furnace of Gold_ and _Thurley Ruxton_ New York Desmond FitzGerald, Inc. Copyright, 1912 By DESMOND FITZGERALD, INC. _All Rights Reserved_ CONTENTS CHAPTER I. A TRUSTED MESSENGER II. AN UNEXPECTED OUTBURST III. A MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY IV. THE NIGHT AND MORNING V. THE ISLAND VI. VARIOUS DISCOVERIES VII. A GREWSOME GUARDIAN VIII. PRIMITIVE CONDITIONS IX. THE MOTHER OF INVENTION X. THE MASTER POACHER XI. A MYSTERY XII. AMBITIOUS PLANS XIII. A MIDNIGHT VISITOR XIV. TRUANTS OUT OF SCHOOL XV. A NIGHT IN THE JUNGLE XVI. A DEAD MAN'S SECRET XVII. FEVERISH EMPLOYMENTS HALTED XVIII. AT THE TIGER'S KILL XIX. GRENVILLE'S RADIANT STAR XX. A GIRDLE OF GOLD XXI. MOLTEN METAL AND HOPES XXII. A TOMB OF STONE XXIII. A DESPERATE CHANCE XXIV. A DREADED VISITOR XXV. AN IRREPARABLE LOSS XXVI. AFTER TO-MORROW---- XXVII. A FATEFUL EXPLOSION XXVIII. WHAT THE BLAST DISCOVERED XXIX. AN INTERRUPTED DIVERSION XXX. REVEALING AN INTENT XXXI. THE SILENT VISITORS XXXII. DEATH AS A BROTHER XXXIII. THE GIRL BEHIND THE GUN XXXIV. DYAK DARTS AND METHODS XXXV. A BATTLE IN THE SMOKE XXXVI. THE LAST CUP OF WATER XXXVII. A BREATHLESS MARGIN XXXVIII. GRENVILLE'S DESPERATE CHANCE XXXIX. ADDITIONAL HEAD-HUNTERS XL. PLOT AND COUNTER PLOT XLI. A LIVING BAIT XLII. LONG HOURS OF DOUBT XLIII. THE HOUR OF CLIMAX XLIV. A LOTUS BLOSSOM XLV. THE LAST BOMB XLVI. A GIFT REFUSED XLVII. A FRIEND IN NEED AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING CHAPTER I A TRUSTED MESSENGER Grenville was not the type to be readily excited, yet a glow of exceptional brilliance shone in his eyes as he met the searching gaze of his friend, and wondered if Fenton could be jesting. That he had made no reply whatsoever to Fenton's proposition he failed to realize till Gerald spoke again. "Well, Sid," demanded that impetuous lieutenant of finance, "gone dumb? Perhaps I haven't made it plain," and he particularized on his fingers. "You get an ocean trip of eight or ten weeks' duration, tropic sun at its best, leisurely business without a fleck of bother, absolute rest, good provender, thorough recuperation, your entire expenses cheerfully paid, vast service rendered to me, no time lost on your equilibrator, time for countless new inventions to sprout in your fertile brain--and the unutterable joy of escaping this abominable climate, practically at once!" Grenville's smile, still brightly boyish, despite the many reverses and hardships of his six and twenty years, came creeping to his eyes. His wan face suggested a tint of color.