"I have an idea," he explained, "but it depends on a daytime look at the island."
Zircon nodded. "All right. We'll take a look. Now, tell us about the village. Any trouble?"
The two boys gave Zircon and Scotty a quick account of their reconnaissance, and both chuckled at Chahda's trick of feeding the dog.
"He'll probably be standing on the beach waiting when you get back," Scotty said with a grin. "Bet it's the first hamburger the pooch ever had. That pirate you belted with the pistol bothers me, though. Won't he set off an alarm that will put the whole mob on the alert?"
"I hope not. There's a chance he might think it was someone in the village who has a grudge against him."
Zircon shrugged. "One way or another, there's nothing we can do about it now. We'll have to assume the whole place is alerted."
"How about some sleep?" Scotty suggested.
Rick shook his head. The first part of his plan had to be put into operation immediately. "It's only a little while to dawn. By sunrise we have to be east of the island."
He explained quickly. For a safe, undetected look at the areas of the island he wanted to see, they would have to depend on the sun for a shield. They could proceed immediately on a roundabout course that would bring them to the east of the island just as the sun was rising. Hidden in the sun's glare, they would have a few minutes in which to examine the eastern slope of the volcano.
"I'm beginning to see your plan," Zircon said. "Then what?"