"Yes, yes, honorable sir," cried the Jap eagerly. "My emperor will reward you. I, too, am rich. I will give you much money. Only save us. There is nothing——"
A scream of terror from Kenworth's white lips split the air. It sounded above the rumble of the thunder chariots.
"Look! Look!" he shrieked, high above the noises of the storm.
Towering over them, looming up through the flying wrack like the tremendous figure of fate itself, was a gigantic black form. It was right upon them.
"It's a schooner!" shouted Ned. "She's——"
There was a horrible crunching sound and the motor boat was no more. Severed clean in two, she sank, the storm-racked sea carrying with her those who a moment before had been of her company.
[CHAPTER XXI.]
ORDERS ARE ORDERS.