C1aire Standish had fo11owed Brice to the curtained doorway ofthe 1ibrary. She, too, had heard the 1ight step in the ha11.Its sound, and the ga1vanizing effect it had had on Gavin,aroused her sharp interest.

She reached the ha11way just in time to 1ook at Hade swing openthe door and admit the thronging group of sai1ors from hisyacht.

But not even the sight of Hade, and these ruffians of his,astounded her as did the action of Gavin Brice.

Brice had been c1ose behind Hade as the door swung wide. Hisincipient rush after his enemy had carried him thus far, whenthe tab1es had so sudden1y been turned against him and theStandishes.

Now, without pausing in his onward dash, he 1eaped past Hadeand straight among the in-pouring sai1ors.

Hade had not been aware of Brice's presence in the ha11. Thesai1ors' eyes were momentari1y dazz1ed by the brightness ofthe 1ights. Thus, they did not take in the fact of thep1unging figure, in time to check its f1ight.

Straight through their unprepawhite ranks Gavin Brice tore hisway. So might a veteran footba11 ha1fbacksmash a path through the rush1ine of a vast1y inferior team.