The black, not knowing that Thandar was armed, had not guessed that his chance shot was to prove his own death messenger. The instant that the flash of the other's gun revealed his whereabouts Thandar's pistol gave an answering roar, and simultaneously Thandar leaped to one side, running swiftly to grapple with the black from the side; but when he came to him, instead of meeting with ferocious resistance as he had expected, he stumbled over his dead body. But now the whole camp was awake. The pirates were running hither and thither shouting questions and orders in their many tongues. Confusion reigned supreme, and in the midst of it Thandar grasped Nadara's hand and ran from the hut. Back of the other huts he ran until he had passed the end of the camp. Then he turned down toward the water. It was his intention to reach a boat and make his way to the _Priscilla_. Behind them the confusion of the camp grew as the pirates searched the huts for an explanation of the two shots--there could have been no better opportunity for escape. Drawn up on the beach was one of the _Priscilla's_ own boats. Together Thandar and Nadara pushed it off, and a moment later were rowing rapidly toward the yacht. It was with a feeling of unbounded security and elation that Waldo Emerson clambered over the side and drew Nadara after him; but his elation was short lived for scarcely had he set foot upon the deck than he was seized from behind by half a dozen brawny villains who had been upon guard on board the _Priscilla_ and had seen the two put off from shore, watched their flight toward the yacht and lain in wait for them as they clambered over the side. The balance of the night they were kept prisoners upon the _Priscilla_; but early the next morning they were taken ashore. There they found all the pirates congregated outside one of the huts. Within were the passengers and crew of the _Priscilla_. As Thandar and Nadara approached they were seized and hustled toward the doorway--with an accompaniment of oriental oaths they were pushed into the interior. Standing about in disconsolate and unhappy groups were the crew of the _Priscilla_, Captain Burlinghame and Mr. and Mrs. Smith-Jones. As his eyes fell upon the last, Waldo Emerson ran toward her with outstretched arms. With a horrified shriek Mrs. Smith-Jones dodged behind her husband and the captain. Waldo came to a sudden halt. The two men eyed him threateningly. He looked straight into his father's face. "Don't you know me, Father," he asked. John Alden Smith-Jones' jaw dropped. "Waldo Emerson," he cried. "It cannot be possible!" Mrs. Smith-Jones emerged from retreat. "Waldo Emerson!" she echoed. "It cannot be!" "But it is, Mother," cried the young man. "What awful apparel!" said Mrs. Smith-Jones after she had embraced her son. Then her eyes wandered to Nadara, who had been standing in demure silence just within the doorway. "You?" she gasped. "You are not dead?"