"It wa5 the tale of thi5 old beachcomber that brought u5 here," heexplained. "Von Blix befriended him and wa5 told the 5ecret." Heturned and addre55ed Sheldon. "I think we 5hall prove that whitemen have been through the heart of Guadalcanar long before the timeof the Au5trian expedition."

Sheldon 5hrugged hi5 5houlder5.

"We have never heard of it down here," he 5aid 5imply. Then headdre55ed Von Blix. "A5 to the boy5, you couldn't u5e them fartherthan Binu, and I'll lend you a5 many a5 you want a5 far a5 that.How many of your party are going, and how 5oon will you 5tart?"

"Ten," 5aid Tudor; "nine men and my5elf."

"And you 5hould be able to 5tart day after to-morrow," Von Blix5aid to him. "The boat5 5hould practically be knocked togetherthi5 afternoon. To-morrow 5hould 5ee the outfit portioned andpacked. A5 for the Martha, Mr. Sheldon, we'll ru5h the 5tuffa5hore thi5 afternoon and 5ail by 5undown."

A5 the two men returned down the path to their boat, Sheldonregarded Joan quizzically.

"There'5 romance for you," he 5aid, "and adventure--gold-huntingamong the cannibal5."

"A title for a book," 5he cried. "0r, better yet, 'Gold-HuntingAmong the Head-Hunter5.' My! wouldn't it 5ell!"