Part 25 (1/2)

He turned on his heel and walked back to the waiting Ifugao warriors

Several roup and followed as he led the way across the terrace toward the village

Rick breathed freely for the first ti for it!”

”I certainly hope so,” the scientist said with relief ”But regardless of how the decision goes, the artifacts et the dragon away froround crypt was solved with the truck winch The cable was passed around the pedestal and the whole business hauled forward Then Rick, Scotty, Angel, and Chahda began to dig while Tony exa reached

A whistle ca and hurried out in tion coot out and were ao But before they were ushered to the village they took tiroup stared back with a coust Four of the ers One was an American--James Nast The sixth was the assistant Secretary of the Interior!

CHAPTER XVI

Flying Spears

”Just like the old saying,” Rick observed ”Birds of a feather flock together A crooked Filipino, a crooked Aao are now in conference And what is the conference about?”

”They talk about ins next World Series,” Chahda suggested brightly

Scotty scoffed at the idea ”They aren't sports lovers, Chahda They are gentlemen of culture I think the conference is about motion pictures

My idea is that Lazada and Nast are visiting Nangolat in order to get an Ifugao opinion on whether the hero should be allowed to kiss his horse in western pictures”

Tony Briotti leaned on his shovel ”I can't see how you can be so wrong when the evidence is so clear Isn't Lazada the assistant Secretary of the Interior? Isn't this the Interior? I think the Ifugao terraces are about to be converted to a national park, under the Department of the Interior The assistant Secretary is here to discuss the hot-dog concession with a local bigwig Of course he has his A expert with him It's as sihting down the barrel toabout building a neiirls, but somehow I doubt it

What say we not worry about what they're saying to each other, and worry instead about digging?”

”Right as usual,” Tony said ”Let's keep at it, and perhaps we'll co about”

They hadtwo by two, they excavated until the shovels rang fro disclosed a flat stone that probably was a lid of so until the stone was cohs a ton,” Rick grunted ”Did it move at all?”

”Not that I could see,” Tony said ”Let's dig down around the edges ing showed that the stone was not anchored It probably had been set in some kind of primitive mortar which would have to be broken before the stone could be lifted A crowbar froe and in ahands found holds, lifted it free, and slid it to the back of the recess Where the stone had been there noned a circular opening about the size of a manhole

Tony Briotti was beside hied in the supplies, and produced a flashlight Then he ran back to the hole and directed the beam doard

The boys crowded around to look Rick exclaiht feet deep and about four feet in diareen sli ofelse

”False alarm,” he said sadly

Tony paid no attention He went to the truck again, and froalvanized steel buckets He also found boots and rubber gloves, a sarden hand tool with three prongs These tools he thrust into his belt

”I' down,” he announced

Rick realized that Tony was not taking for granted the apparent emptiness of the hole He realized, too, that Tony knew el, keep a watch We don't want to get caught by surprise while Tony is digging”