I designed the motor myself to burn a fuel of my own invention; I've got enough aboard to carry us ten thousand miles. I've been planning on this for a long time, and so I happen to know that the northeast trades blow pretty steadily this time of year; that'll conserve a lot of our fuel. Eventually they'd blow us where I want to go, or pretty close, without any fuel. "

"Where's that?"

"There are about a million islands in the triangle formed by Sumatra, New Guinea, and the Philippines; most any of them will suit me better than sunny southern Cal."

"But you can't ever reach there in this thing. Do you know how far it is?"

"About seven thousand miles."

"For the love of Mike, Perry, turn around and go back while we've got a chance. "

"I'm not going back, and don't forget that I didn't invite you to come along; I don't want you along. If you aren't satisfied, there's the door; you can step out and walk back home. "

"What are you going to use for food on this trip?"

"I have plenty of food for myself, a month's supply; but now that you're along that will cut us down to about two weeks."

"After which we'll starve to death, if we're not drowned first. "

"We'll be down on our island in two weeks."

"How do you figure that out?"

"With a pencil-try it. Of course she's not built for speed. She can make sixty, but her most economical cruising speed is forty-that's 960 miles a day; divide that into seven thousand and you'll get seven plus. The trade wind is going to help us, too; but I figure on drifting while I sleep. Taking everything into consideration two weeks is a conservative estimate."

"I hope you're right."

He looked at me with that funny light in his eyes again. "I am always right. "

"You and God."

At that his anger flared suddenly. "If you didn't have that gun on I'd fling you overboard, but I'll get you yet." Then he commenced muttering to himself, and I thought I caught the words, "You can't stay awake for two weeks."

In an hour or so he seemed to have forgotten his sudden rage and suggested that we eat. That suited me all right, as almost anything would have that suggested a break in the monotony. The idea of sailing over that vast expanse of sullen water for weeks without seeing anything else was commencing to get me already.

The day seemed endless, but at last it passed and night came; then Perry shut off the engine and we let down the two folding cots in the cabin and turned in. I was tired doing nothing and fell right asleep. I must have slept like a log; but something awoke me shortly after midnight---awoke me with a start--and when I opened my eyes there was Perry standing over me.

Chapter 3 Above the Pacific

HE WAS HOLDING SOMETHING IN HIS HAND. "What do you want, Perry?" I asked sharply.

At that he commenced to laugh. I call it a laugh, but it was a sound that raised gooseflesh all over me; and I never was exactly what might be called squeamish. He walked back to his cot and sat on the edge of it, still laughing.

Something told me I wasn't going to sleep much more that night; so I got up. As I did so I happened to glance out a window, and what I saw gave me another start. It was a bright, moonlit night; everything was plainly visible, and I saw the surface of the ocean rolling in great swells right there under my nose-we were only a few yards above it.

"Look out the window, Perry," I said.

He just kept his eyes on me; they hadn't left me since I had caught him standing there above me. "You think you're smart, don't you?" he jeered. "But you're not as smart as I am, you dumb cop. I know your game; if I look away you'll jump on me."

"I'd jump on you anyway, if I wanted to, Perry. If you don't want to go swimming, you'd better get busy, for we're almost in the water now. "

Then he took his eyes off me and glanced out the window.