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 concerned for your safety, Grant? Fear not." An amused thought evidently struck him. He added. "It occurs to me how easy, if I am going to ransom you, it will be for me to send you back dead. You might, if I send you back alive, tell them a lot of things about me." "I will not talk." "Not," he said, "if I close your mouth for good." * * * * * I had no retort. There was no answering such logic; and with his murders of Spawn and Perona, and the deaths of some of the police guards at the mine, the murder of me would not put him in much worse a position. He was laughing ironically. Suddenly he checked himself.