“Ted took her away from me at last, or at least I think he did.” “Our Ted?” Stew sat up. “The one who came out today to help us fight the Japs? The Ted who saved our lives? Hm-m-m! Sounds a little bit queer.” “Yes, but we practically saved his life too. That might also seem strange. It’s that way in war. War changes a lot of things.” “You see,” Jack said, sitting up, “Ted and I were rivals. He was what the girls call ‘smooth’. I wasn’t. You know how I am.” “Oh sure.” “He beat me in some things, and I beat him in others. Then he went after Patsy.” “But you weren’t smooth?” Stew drawled. “That’s what I said.” “Then how come you’re pals now?” “We’re not really, you see. Ted and I both joined the Navy air force. We went to different training bases. I never saw him again until we met on board the _Black Bee_. Then he dragged me off to one side and said—” “Listen!” Stew’s voice was tense. “There’s that screaming again! It’s coming this way like the wind.” Jack listened with all his might. How weird it was, that screech coming in out of the silence of the night. “Some witch riding a broomstick.” He laughed uncertainly. “Some Jap trick,” Stew muttered. “I’m not so sure,” Jack said thoughtfully. “I’ve got a brand new notion about that thing.” “What’s that?” “I’ll tell you later.” “Makes one want to be in an air-raid shelter.” “Well, you won’t. We haven’t even got a cave. But there’s no need really. It’s got the whole island to strike, and it must be five miles long. The law of averages gives us one chance in a million of being hit.” At that Stew settled back. “That law of averages is mighty comforting sometimes,” Jack went on. “Take this war. We’ve eleven million men in uniform. How many do you think will get killed?” “Maybe a million.” “Not half that many, I’ll bet. That gives you and me one chance out of twenty-two of getting home alive. But maybe only a quarter of a million will be killed.” “Forget that, can’t you?” Stew begged. “Death and that infernal howl don’t go so hot together.” By this time the screech filled the air. Then all of a sudden it dropped to become a mere whisper. “Say! That’s funny!” Jack exclaimed softly. “I’ll say!” Stew drew a deep breath. The voice of the unknown rose again, but this time the sound rose and fell. “Something like the sound of a plane circling for a landing,” Jack told himself. Then suddenly there was no sound at all. And though he wasn’t sure, Jack thought he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow darting low over the water some distance away. CHAPTER VII A NIGHT’S ADVENTURES For a full three minutes after the sound had ceased abruptly, the two boys sat in absolute silence. Stew was waiting for the sound of a violent explosion. More minutes ticked away, and still silence over their tropical isle. “Well, I’ll be—” Stew sprang to his feet. “We’re not the only ones on this island,” Jack said in a husky whisper.