He lunged for it; a short, hoarse cry came from his lips as he realized he had reached too far and had lost his balance. The cry was pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea dosed over his head.He struggled up to the surface and tried to cry out, but the wash from the speeding yacht slapped him in the face and the salt water in his open mouth made him gag and strangle.

Rainsford did not smile. "I am still a beast at bay," he said, in a low, hoarse voice. "Get ready, General Zaroff."The general made one of his deepest bows. "I see," he said. "Splendid! One of us is to furnish a repast for the hounds. The other will sleep in this very excellent bed. On guard, Rainsford." . . .He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.

A man, who had been hiding in the curtains of the bed, was standing there."Rainsford!" screamed the general. "How in God's name did you get here?""Swam," said Rainsford. "I found it quicker than walking through the jungle.

Now he had got a grip on himself, had stopped, and was taking stock of himself and the situation.

"But no animal can reason," objected Rainsford."My dear fellow," said the general, "there is one that can.""But you can't mean--" gasped Rainsford."And why not?""I can't believe you are serious, General Zaroff. This is a grisly joke."

The cry was pinched off short as the blood-warm waters of the Caribbean Sea dosed over his head.

"What island is it?" Rainsford asked.